INFECTIONS OF THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM IN THE NEWBORN

Safe, effective vaccines and potent antimicrobial agents have diminish ed substantially the morbidity and mortality associated with neonatal infections of the central nervous system (CNS), and new molecular meth ods, such as the polymerase chain reaction, enable clinicians to detec t micro-organisms rapidly. Despite these advances, CNS infections rema in an important cause of death and neurodevelopmental sequelae. This a rticle summarizes current concepts regarding infections of the develop ing CNS.