Bacterial meningitis and other nonviral infections of the nervous system.

Bacteria and fungi, owing to their intrinsic properties and the host responses they produce, result in relatively specific clinical syndromes when they infect the central nervous system. The infecting organism may produce symptoms and signs by interfering with the function of the nervous system tissue being invaded or compressed. The definitive treatment of central nervous system infection depends on correct identification and antimicrobial treatment of the infecting organism, relief of excessive pressure or mass effect that it exerts, and modulation of the host's immune response to allow clearance of the organism while minimizing excessive inflammation.