Central Nervous System Infections

Many infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can be rapidly progressive, producing death or permanent damage in a short period of time. CNS infections take a great variety of forms, ranging from acute but benign forms of viral meningitis to rapidly fatal bacterial meningitis, to the slowly progressive mental deterioration from fungal, mycobacterial, or persistent viral infection. In order to provide effective therapy in a timely manner, all clinicians need to have a basic understanding of the anatomic and physiologic determinants underliying signs and symptoms of these infections.