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Infections in Neurocritical Care
John C O'Horo1,2, Priya Sampathkumar3
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. ohoro.john@mayo.edu.
Neurocritical Care
|June 23, 2017
Summary
Neurointensive care unit (NICU) patients face difficult infections. This review covers diagnosing and managing central nervous system (CNS) infections and healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in critically ill neurosurgical patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurocritical care medicine
- Infectious diseases
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Neurointensive care unit (NICU) patients present unique infectious disease challenges.
- Central nervous system (CNS) infections are particularly difficult to diagnose and treat in this population.
- Post-neurosurgical patients are susceptible to healthcare-associated infections (HAI) beyond those common in general critical care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the diagnostic and management strategies for suspected infections in the NICU.
- To review the approach to specific infectious syndromes encountered in neurocritical care.
Main Methods:
- This is a review article.
- It synthesizes current approaches to infection management in neurocritical care.
Main Results:
- Infections in NICU patients require a systematic diagnostic approach.
- Management strategies vary depending on the specific infectious syndrome and patient factors.
- Early recognition and targeted treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive understanding of infectious diseases is essential for neurocritical care.
- Tailored management plans are necessary for CNS infections and HAIs in NICU patients.
- Further research may refine diagnostic and therapeutic protocols for these complex cases.
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