Objective To investigate intracranial infection in patients with lumbar cistern catheter drainage after surgery for Hunt-Hess high-grade ruptured cerebral aneurysm, and analyze the influencing factors. Methods Clinical data of patients who underwent surgery for Hunt-Hess high-grade ruptured cerebral aneurysm in the cerebrovascular disease diagnosis and treatment center of a hospital between March 2017 and May 2018 were collected. The social demography, disease condition, treatment process, post-operative intracranial infection, and risk factors were analyzed. Results There were 72 patients with lumbar cistern catheter drainage after surgery for Hunt-Hess high-grade ruptured cerebral aneurysm, 30 (41.67%) had intracranial infection. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in intracranial infection rates among patients of different ages, mRS score at admission, preoperative use of antimicrobial agents, cerebrospinal fluid leakage and drainage tube contamination (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the main factors affecting the infection were cerebrospinal fluid leakage (OR=3.68), without preoperative use of antimicrobial agents (OR=3.18), drainage tube contamination (OR=2.82), mRS score ≥ 4 at admission (OR=2.51), and age ≥ 61 years (OR=1.06). Conclusion Intracranial infection rate in patients with lumbar cistern catheter drainage after surgery for Hunt-Hess high-grade ruptured cerebral aneurysm is high, control of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, preventive use of antimicrobial agents, strengthening aseptic operation when using drainage tube can effectively reduce the incidence of intracranial infection in patients with lumbar cistern catheter drainage after surgery.