Bacterial Infections

Abstract

Bacterial meningitis occurs in many clinical situations, including spontaneous (the most important category), post-traumatic, and device-associated (relating to cerebrospinal fluid shunts and drains). Each of these is associated with a particular pattern of infecting organisms, clinical presentation, and outcome, but overall there is high morbidity and mortality. Spontaneous meningitis is the most important category. It can be divided into neonatal meningitis and meningitis of childhood and adulthood. Post-traumatic meningitis follows neurosurgery or fractures of the skull. Device-associated meningitis complicates the use of cerebrospinal fluid shunts and drains. Infection may also be considered as community acquired or nosocomial (hospital acquired or physician associated).