Models of infection before and after stroke: investigating new targets.

Infectious diseases are the most common medical complication after cerebral ischemia, inpairing both the neurological and the general medical outcome. The most frequent infectious complications are bacterial pneumonia and urinary tract infections. There is a growing body of evidence that a secondary immunosuppressive state accounts for the increased risk of infection following stroke. Infections do not only have an important impact on outcome after stroke but also are known risk factors for stroke. Thus, suitable models for investigating the relation between infections and stroke are urgently needed. Elucidating the underlying mechanisms might facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies and improve patient outcome. Here we present recent insights into the relationship between infections and stroke, based on experimental models of post-stroke infection. In addition we give a brief overview of models that explore the impact on stroke of preceding infections.