Abstract
Bacteria can cause meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess, and subdural empyema producing a variety of neurological signs. Bacteria are classified based on their morphology, microscopic appearance, and reaction of Gram staining.
In meningitis, imaging findings are often normal or unspecific. Leptomeningeal enhancement and exudate in the subarachnoidal space might be seen. Unspecific T2-hyperintense white matter lesions may show enhancement in encephalitis. Brain abscess present as a ring-enhancing lesion with peripheral edema.
Typical examples of bacterial infections including meningitis, purulent leptomeningitis, brain abscess, and tuberculosis are shown. Pathogenetic mechanisms of bacterial invasion and dissemination, bacterial translocation into the CNS, immune activation and inflammatory response in the brain, tissue destruction, genes controlling the host response to microbes, and genetic polymorphisms associated with tuberculous meningitis are presented.
Treatment consists of antibiotic medication aiming at inhibition of cell wall synthesis, of protein synthesis, and of nucleic acid synthesis. Furthermore, surgery for brain abscess is essential. Clinical outcome is variable ranging from good in 57% to a mortality rate of 20%.
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Weis, S. et al. (2019). Infections: Bacteria. In: Imaging Brain Diseases. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1544-2_25
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