- Monitor daily weight, serum electrolytes, urine volume, specific gravity, and
osmolality
- Prevent complications associated with immobility
- Infection control precautions
- Supportive care
- Measures to facilitate coping of patient and family
Brain Abscess
— Collection of infectious material within brain tissue
— Risk is increased in immunocompromised patient
— Prevent by treating otitis media, mastoiditis, sinusitis, dental infections, and
systemic infections promptly
— Manifestations may include headache that is usually worse in the morning, fever,
vomiting, neurologic deficits, signs and symptoms of increased ICP
— Diagnosis by MRI or CT
— CT-guided aspiration is used to identify the causative organisms
- Medical management
- Control ICP – Drain abscess
- Administer appropriate antibiotic therapy. Corticosteroids may be used to treat
cerebral edema
- Nursing management
- Frequent and ongoing neurologic assessment and of responses to treatment
- Assure patient safety and protect from injury
- Provide supportive care
Encephalitis
- Acute, inflammatory process of the brain tissue
- Causes include viral infections (herpes simplex [HSV]), vector-borne viral infections
(West Nile, St. Louis), and fungal infections