The management of central nervous system infections is continuously changing. There is increasing evidence that the timehonored practice of fluid restriction in children with acute bacterial meningitis may contribute to a poor outcome. The emergence of penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant pneumo-cocci have increased the urgency for the development of new antimicrobial agents to treat central nervous system infections. Steady progress continues to be made in the diagnosis and management of the neurologic complications of AIDS.