Article Topic: Neuropathies Due to Infections and Antimicrobial Treatments

• Published in: Current treatment options in neurology Vol. 25; no. 7; pp. 213 - 229
• Main Authors: De León, Andrés M., Garcia-Santibanez, Rocio, Harrison, Taylor B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.07.2023
• Subjects: Critical Care Medicine; Diabetes; Family Medicine; General Practice; Intensive; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurology; Ophthalmology; Topical Collection on Neuromuscular Disorders; Vasculitic neuropathy; Guillain–Barre syndrome; Autonomic neuropathy; Hansen disease; HIV-associated distal sensory polyneuropathy
• ISSN: 1092-8480; 1534-3138
• DOI: 10.1007/s11940-023-00756-5

Purpose of eview The aim of this review is to discuss the presentation, diagnosis, and management of polyneuropathy (PN) in selected infections. Overall, most infection related PNs are an indirect consequence of immune activation rather than a direct result of peripheral nerve infection,  Schwann cell infection, or toxin production, though note this review will describe infections that cause PN through all these mechanisms. Rather than dividing them by each infectious agent separately, we have grouped the infectious neuropathies according to their presenting phenotype, to serve as a guide to clinicians. Finally, toxic neuropathies related to antimicrobials are briefly summarized. Recent findings While PN from many infections is decreasing, increasing evidence links infections to variants of GBS. Incidence of neuropathies secondary to use of HIV therapy has decreased over the last few years. Summary In this manuscript, a general overview of the more common infectious causes of PN will be discussed, dividing them across clinical phenotypes: large- and small-fiber polyneuropathy, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), mononeuritis multiplex, and autonomic neuropathy. Rare but important infectious causes are also discussed.