Objective To explore the causes and treatments of reinfection following initial ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infection.Methods Retrospective analysis the medical records that refer to VP shunt and shunt infection in hydratight electronic medical record system in the Version 1.0 of The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from February 1, 2007 to February 1, 2012.Results Among 372 patients with VP shunt,24 cases with initial VP shunt infection, of which 5 cases of reinfection.The treatments of initial shunt infection were as fllows: 21 cases had removed the shunt,of which 3 cases were complete shunt removal without shunt replacement,none of reinfection.while the other 18 cases who were shunt removal and external drainage followed by new shunt placement once the CSF is sterile, of 2 cases reinfection;2 cases were only antimicrobial and symptomatic treatment without shunt removal and 1 case was a part of shunt removal (the distal portion of the shunt device) followed by external drainage followed by new shunt placement (1 case),of all 3 cases reinfection.Conclusions The most effective treatment of initial ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection was immediately shunt removal in combination with appropriate systemic antibiotics. Partial or without shunt removal after initial VP shunt infection can't control the infection.