Treatment of central nervous system infections: a neurosurgical perspective.

Almost any microorganism has the potential to infect the human central nervous system. Neurosurgical intervention may be required for tissue assay, to establish a microbiologic diagnosis, for decompression of space-occupying lesions with significant mass effects, or for definitive treatments such as cerebrospinal fluid diversion. This article surveys the surgical management of intracranial infections with special emphasis on subdural and epidural empyema, brain abscesses, mycotic aneurysms, and neurocysticercosis.