Division CNS-IC: Intracranial infection (brain abscess, subdural or epidural infection, encephalitis)

Intracranial infection must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Patient has organisms cultured from brain tissue or dura

• Patient has an abscess or evidence of intracranial infection seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

• Patient has at least two of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognised cause: headache, dizziness, fever (> 38 °C), localising neurologic signs, changing level of consciousness, or confusion

AND at least one of the following:

• organisms seen on microscopic examination of brain or abscess tissue obtained by needle aspiration or by biopsy during a surgical operation or autopsy

• positive antigen test on blood or urine

• radiographic evidence of infection, (e.g. abnormal findings on ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, radionuclide brain scan, or arteriogram)

• diagnostic single antibody titer (IgM) or four-fold increase in paired sera (IgG) for pathogen

AND if diagnosis is made antemortem, physician institutes appropriate antimicrobial therapy.