Healthcare-Associated Infections in the Neurocritical Care Unit

This article summarizes updated data and knowledge on healthcare-associated infections in the neurocritical care unit, with a focus on central nervous system infections and systemic infectious complications in patients with acute brain disease. It also reviews the concept of brain injury-induced immune modulation, an underlying mechanism to explain why the neuro-ICU population is particularly susceptible to infections.

Healthcare-associated infections in the neuro-ICU are common: up to 40 % of meningitides in the developed world are now healthcare-associated. The number of gram-negative infections is rising. New diagnostic approaches attempt to aid in the diagnosis of healthcare-associated meningitis and ventriculitis. Healthcare-associated infections in the neurocritical care unit remain a challenge for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Gaining a better understanding of at-risk patients and development of preventative strategies will be the goal for future investigation.