Infection as a risk factor for cerebral infarction.

Cerebral infarction is a common complication in severe bacteraemic infections, such as endocarditis and meningitis, but it also occurs in other more common, milder infections. Febrile infections, mostly of the respiratory tract, and of probable bacterial origin, have been found as a risk factor for cerebral infarction. There are many mechanisms that could link a preceding infection to cerebral infarction, including septic emboli, arteritis, activation of the coagulation system and changes in blood rheology.