Commonly encountered central nervous system infection in the neurointensive care unit

A wide variety of community- and hospital-associated infections of the central nervous system (CNS) may be encountered on the neurointensive care unit (NICU). Distinguishing between the potential infectious aetiologies and differentiating from non-infectious causes can be challenging. Specific elements of the history and establishing early the immune status and travel history of an individual with possible infection can guide targeted additional testing. Increasing prevalence of iatrogenic immunosuppression means that familiar pathogens can present atypically. In addition, epidemiology of pathogens is changing with rising antimicrobial resistance and autochthonous cases of previously travel-associated pathogens