Infections in neurologic surgery. Host defenses.
Normal host defense mechanisms are effective in preventing central nervous system (CNS) infection. Opsonins and compliment levels are normally low in the CNS, however. The relationship of these factors to CNS infection, specifically surgical wound infection and shunt infection, is discussed.
Borges
L F
LF
Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000276:immunology*