Infectious Meningitis and Encephalitis

Rachel J Bystritsky; Felicia C Chow

doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2021.08.006

Infectious Meningitis and Encephalitis

Neurol Clin. 2022 Feb;40(1):77-91. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2021.08.006.

Authors

Rachel J Bystritsky¹, Felicia C Chow²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Room S-280, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. Electronic address: rachel.bystritsky@ucsf.edu.
² Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Building 1, Room 101, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Building 1, Room 101, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA.

PMID: 34798976
DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2021.08.006

Abstract

Infectious meningitis and encephalitis are associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Acute bacterial meningitis is rapidly fatal and early recognition and institution of therapy are imperative. Viral meningitis is typically a benign self-limited illness. Chronic meningitis (defined as presenting with >4 weeks of symptoms) is most often caused by tuberculosis and fungal infection. Because the diagnostic testing for tuberculous meningitis is insensitive and cultures often take weeks to grow, therapy is often initiated empirically when the diagnosis is suspected. Human simplex virus encephalitis is the most common cause of encephalitis and requires prompt treatment with intravenous acyclovir.

Keywords: CNS infection; Encephalitis; Meningitis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acyclovir
Encephalitis* / diagnosis
Encephalitis* / therapy
Humans
Meningitis, Bacterial* / diagnosis
Meningitis, Viral* / diagnosis

Substances

Acyclovir