Brain Infections

The brain is a direct target for certain infections, and may also be indirectly affected by systemic bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections and their treatment. We provide expert care for patients with infections directly or indirectly involving the nervous system.

Certain pathogens, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, West Nile Virus, Borrelia burgdorferi (resulting in Lyme disease), and other viral brain infections occur in otherwise healthy people. Other infections, such as fungal infections or more rare parasites, tend to more commonly affect people with immune systems compromised by cancer, chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapy, or transplantation.

Some infections that affect the nervous system are more common in tropical areas or in resource-limited settings than they are in the U.S. At other times, neurologic conditions may not be primarily infectious, but may disproportionately affect persons in certain regions of the globe where neurologic expertise and treatment options have historically been limited.

Our faculty has particular expertise in the assessment and management of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system complications of HIV/AIDS. One of our main goals is to optimize the overall cognitive and neurological health of people with HIV.