Central Nervous System Infections

Richard A Giovane; Paul Drake Lavender

doi:10.1016/j.pop.2018.05.007

Central Nervous System Infections

Prim Care. 2018 Sep;45(3):505-518. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2018.05.007. Epub 2018 Jul 9.

Authors

Richard A Giovane¹, Paul Drake Lavender²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Family, Internal and Rural Medicine, The University of Alabama, 850 Peter Bryce Boulevard, Box 870377, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, USA.
² Department of Family, Internal and Rural Medicine, The University of Alabama, 850 Peter Bryce Boulevard, Box 870377, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, USA. Electronic address: drake@ua.edu.

PMID: 30115337
DOI: 10.1016/j.pop.2018.05.007

Abstract

Infections of the nervous system are potential life-threatening and are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Prompt recognition and treatment of a central nervous system (CNS) infection is crucial for patient survival, as these infections have a high morbidity and mortality. CNS infections include meningitis, encephalitis, and brain abscesses. This article seeks to detail the etiology, clinical course, diagnostic challenges, and treatment of CNS infections organized by infectious agent.

Keywords: Cryptococcus; Encephalitis; Meningitis; Prions; Toxoplasmosis; Tuberculosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
Central Nervous System Fungal Infections / diagnosis
Central Nervous System Fungal Infections / drug therapy
Central Nervous System Infections / diagnosis*
Central Nervous System Infections / therapy
Encephalitis, Viral / diagnosis
Encephalitis, Viral / drug therapy
Humans
Meningitis / diagnosis
Meningitis / drug therapy
Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / diagnosis
Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / drug therapy

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antifungal Agents
Antiviral Agents