Neurosurgical aspects of central nervous system infections.

Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can be severe, disabling, and potentially fatal. Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can be severe, disabling, and potentially fatal. Appropriate recognition of symptoms facilitates expeditious evaluation, prompt diagnosis, and timely treatment. Further work-up may include cranial or spinal imaging, lumbar puncture, and invasive biopsy. Therapy involves antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal treatment. Surgical treatment for debridement, decompression, or reconstruction may also be required. This review explores the presentation, pathogenesis, evaluation, and treatment of the most common infections of the CNS. Discussion of treatment options also includes possible neurosurgical interventions. The infections considered are cerebral abscess, subdural empyema, meningitis, encephalitis, toxoplasmosis, neurocysticercosis, diskitis, and spinal epidural abscess.