Infections in the neurosurgical intensive care unit.

The sources of fever and infection in neurosurgical patients in the intensive care unit are varied and complex. Benign postoperative fever due to atelectasis of the lungs or from central nervous system sources are difficult to define. Distinguishing between these "benign" sources and true nosocomial bacterial infections can be a difficult clinical process. Empiric antibiotic regimens are outlined, and some guidelines are proposed for the management of infected catheters.