BASICS

Hydrocephalus (commonly known as ‘water on the brain’) is treated by an operation to insert a tube (ventriculoperitoneal shunt) into the swollen fluid cavities of the brain to drain off the excess fluid. The BASICS study was designed to assess whether or not antibiotic-impregnated shunts or silver-impregnated shunts reduce the risk of infection after the operation compared with standard shunts. A total of 1,605 children and adults across the UK and the Republic of Ireland participated in this study. The BASICS study provides evidence to support the adoption of antibiotic shunts in UK patients who are having their first ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion. This practice will benefit patients of all ages by reducing the risk and harm of shunt infection. The antibiotic shunt is likely to be cost-saving.

For further information please visit: www.basicsstudy.org.uk



Publications

Mallucci CL, Jenkinson MD, Conroy EJ, Hartley JC, Brown M, Dalton J, Kearns T, Moitt T, Griffiths MJ, Culeddu G, Solomon T, Hughes D, Gamble C; BASICS Study collaborators. Antibiotic or silver versus standard ventriculoperitoneal shunts (BASICS): a multicentre, single-blinded, randomised trial and economic evaluation. Lancet. 2019 Oct 26;394(10208):1530-1539. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31603-4. Epub 2019 Sep 12. Erratum in: Lancet. 2019 Sep 18;: Erratum in: Lancet. 2020 Jun 13;395(10240):1834. PMID: 31522843; PMCID: PMC6999649.

Mallucci CL, Jenkinson MD, Conroy EJ, Hartley JC, Brown M, Moitt T, Dalton J, Kearns T, Griffiths MJ, Culeddu G, Solomon T, Hughes D, Gamble C; BASICS study collaborators. Silver-impregnated, antibiotic-impregnated or non-impregnated ventriculoperitoneal shunts to prevent shunt infection: the BASICS three-arm RCT. Health Technol Assess. 2020 Mar;24(17):1-114. doi: 10.3310/hta24170. PMID: 32238262; PMCID: PMC7184313.

Jenkinson MD, Gamble C, Hartley JC, Hickey H, Hughes D, Blundell M, Griffiths MJ, Solomon T, Mallucci CL. The British antibiotic and silver-impregnated catheters for ventriculoperitoneal shunts multi-centre randomised controlled trial (the BASICS trial): study protocol. Trials. 2014 Jan 3;15:4. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-4. PMID: 24383496; PMCID: PMC3892025.