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 2 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: headache, dizziness, fever (> 38 °C), localizing neurologic signs, changing level of consciousness, or confusion

  AND at least 1 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 (for example, abnormal findings on ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, radionuclide brain scan, or arteriogram)

  • diagnostic single antibody titre (IgM) or 4-fold increase in paired sera (IgG) for pathogen

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