Pediatric sinogenic and otogenic intracranial infections requiring neurosurgical intervention: a North American multicenter study in the era of COVID-19

Megan G. Anderson; Jonathan Pindrik; Ian C. Michelow; Amirul Anuar; Jared Haught; Hannah Lehmann; Tomoko Tanaka; Aidan Moore; Weston T. Northam; Carolina Lopes; Moise Danielpour; Catherine M. Garcia; Christian B. Kaufman; David M. Garcia; Joshua J. Chern; Sarah Newman; Smruti Patel; Sarah Mierke; M. Omar Iqbal; Helayne Okeiff; S. Hassan A. Akbari; Julia Trout; Ali Yunus Rizvi; Kentlee Battick; Oritsejolomi Roberts; Mary O. Haastrup; Christina Notarianni; Carlie Proctor; Michael DeCuypere; Megan Votoupal; Klaudia Dziugan; Heather J. McCrea; Victor M Lu; Joseph H. Piatt; Joanna Gernsback; Michael Omini; Vijay M. Ravindra; David Gonda; Kiefer J. Forseth; Laurie L. Ackerman; Andrew J. Witten; Nisha Gadgil; Ihika Rampalli; Lance S. Governale; Megan E. H. Still; James Botros; Ariana Barkley; Jericho Vandr; Albert Tu; Sharini Sam Chee; Guangwen Sun; Howard J. Silberstein; Catherine Jay; Robert Bollo; Allison Ludwick; Kurtis I. Auguste; Catalina Pen-Caguin; Krystal L. Tomei; B Rothstein; Zulma Tovar-Spinoza; George W. Koutsouras; David I. Sandberg; Bangning N. Yu; Michael C. Dewan; Meredith A. Monsour; Gary Tye; Emily Dunbar; J Pisapia; Sabrina L. Zeller; David S. Hersh

doi:10.3171/2025.11.peds25514

April 3, 2026Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics

Pediatric sinogenic and otogenic intracranial infections requiring neurosurgical intervention: a North American multicenter study in the era of COVID-19

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Key Points

To investigate the increase in pediatric sinogenic and otogenic intracranial infections requiring neurosurgical intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Multicenter retrospective study
Data collected across multiple North American sites
Analyzed infection incidence and outcomes pre- and during COVID-19
Significant increase in incidence of sinogenic and otogenic intracranial infections observed during COVID-19
Adverse outcome rates remained similar to pre-pandemic levels
Potential factors include immune system modulation and changes in respiratory bacteria

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Implication

Multicenter study demonstrates increased intracranial infections in children during COVID-19, indicating a significant health concern.

Abstract

This North American multicenter retrospective study demonstrated a significant increase in the incidence of sinogenic and otogenic intracranial infections requiring neurosurgical intervention but similar rates of adverse outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Possible explanations include direct modulation of the immune system by SARS-CoV-2, a loss of certain commensal respiratory bacteria, and/or indirect effects of the pandemic.

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Anderson et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69d34cee9c07852e0af9738a https://doi.org/10.3171/2025.11.peds25514

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Pediatric sinogenic and otogenic intracranial infections requiring neurosurgical intervention: a North American multicenter study in the era of COVID-19

Key Points

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Pediatric sinogenic and otogenic intracranial infections requiring neurosurgical intervention: a North American multicenter study in the era of COVID-19

Key Points

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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