Bacterial and fungal brain infections in AIDS.

Many bacterial and fungal pathogens can infect the central nervous system (CNS) in patients also infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Most of these organisms cause meningitis, and this is sometimes accompanied by focal parenchymal infection. More virulent pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis hominis, can cause disease in individuals with mild degrees of HIV-associated immunosuppression. Less virulent pathogens, such as Cryptococcus neoformans, tend to affect individuals with more advanced immunosuppression. This review focuses on the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of the more common bacterial and fungal CNS infections.