Aims and objectives

The ESCMID Study Group for Infectious Diseases of the Brain (ESGIB) aims to bring together international experts on diagnostics, treatment, and pathophysiology of infections of the brain. To advance their mission, ESGIB is committed to:

  • Organising meetings of research groups studying central nervous system (CNS) infections to enhance cooperation between diverse specialties, including neurology, infectious diseases, and microbiology
  • Developing clinical guidelines on CNS infections such as bacterial meningitis and brain abscesses
  • Offering teaching courses on clinical and experimental aspects of brain infections

Activities and resources

ESGIB Newsletter, December 2025

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ESGIB Newsletter, October 2025

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Optimization of antiviral dosing in Herpesviridae encephalitis: a promising approach to improve outcome? 

Nau R, Seele J, Bodilsen J, Groß U. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2025 Apr;31(4):534-541

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Clinical features and outcome of brain abscess after introduction of CT and MRI: A meta-analysis.

Bodilsen J, Eriksen EM, Nielsen MD, Duerlund LS, Mariager T, Nielsen H, Brouwer MC.  J Infect. 2025 Feb;90(2):106394.

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Heparin-Binding Protein in Cerebrospinal Fluid as a Biomarker for Bacterial Meningitis: A Study of Diagnostic Accuracy. 

Olie SE, Staal SL, da Cruz Campos AC, Bodilsen J, Nielsen H, van de Beek D, Brouwer MC. Ann Neurol. 2025 Jun;97(6):1088-1095

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Distribution of ganciclovir in the porcine central nervous system. 

Guldbæk JM, Mariager T, Nielsen MD, Terkelsen JH, Nau R, Bjarkam CR, Nielsen H, Bodilsen J. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2025 May 7;69(5):e0181524

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Ventriculitis characteristics and outcomes (VELCRO): an international retrospective cohort study. 

Luque Paz D, Díaz-Pollán B, Boyer-Besseyre M, Djanikian F, Munier AL, Cunha F, Escaut L, Martin-Blondel G, Sarton B, Jaquet P, Arrivé F, Wolf R, Legros V, Willig M, Sipahi OR, Flurin L, Bianchi A, Balança B, Díez-Vidal A, Puel J, Soyer B, Lino R, Leveque T, Salomon A, Serris A, Larcher R, Bruneel F, Mongardon N, Martinot M, Mazeraud A, Wolff M, Sonneville R, Valour F, Tattevin P; ESGIB-SPILF-SFAR Research Network-VELCRO study group. Brain. 2025 May 20:awaf178

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Distribution of acyclovir in central nervous system compartments: a porcine pharmacokinetic model. 

Mariager T, Terkelsen JH, Guldbæk JM, Nielsen MD, Vestergaard J, Bue M, Öbrink-Hansen K, Nau R, Bjarkam CR, de Lange ECM, Nielsen H, Bodilsen J. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2025 Aug 6;69(8):e0181124

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Validation and clinical implementation of cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis: a prospective diagnostic accuracy study.

Olie SE, Staal SL, Groeneveld NS, Schotman HHM, Bodilsen J, Nielsen H, Bijlsma MW, van de Beek D, Brouwer MC.  Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2025 Apr 29;53:101309

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Revisiting Acyclovir Dosing for Adult Viral Encephalitis Using a Full Bayesian LeiCNS PBPK Modeling Approach. 

Sun M, Manson ML, Märtson AG, Bodilsen J, de Lange ECM, Guo T. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2025 Sep;64(9):1413-1423

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European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of brain abscess in children and adults.

Bodilsen J, D'Alessandris QG, Humphreys H, Iro MA, Klein M, Last K, Montesinos IL, Pagliano P, Sipahi OR, San-Juan R, Tattevin P, Thurnher M, Rangel RJT, Brouwer MC; ESCMID Study Group for Infections of the Brain (ESGIB). Clin Microbiol Infect. 2024;30(1):66–89.

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ChatGPT fails challenging the recent ESCMID brain abscess guideline.

Dyckhoff-Shen S, Koedel U, Brouwer MC, Bodilsen J, Klein M.  J Neurol. 2024 Apr;271(4):2086-2101

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Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus meningitis in adults. 

Van Soest TM, Søndermølle MB, Brouwer MC, Chekrouni N, Larsen AR, Petersen A, van Sorge NM, Nielsen H, van de Beek D, Bodilsen J; DASGIB study group. J Infect. 2023;86(3):239–244.

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Pericytes are protective in experimental pneumococcal meningitis through regulating leukocyte infiltration and blood-brain barrier function.

Teske NC, Dyckhoff-Shen S, Beckenbauer P, Jan Philipp Bewersdorf, Engelen-Lee JY, Hammerschmidt D,Kälin R, Pfister HW, Brouwer MC, Klein M, Glaß R, van de Beek D, Koedel U. J Neuroinflammation. 2023;20(1):267.

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Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy treated by immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Boumaza X, Bonneau B, Roos-Weil D, Pinnetti C, Rauer S, Nitsch L, Del Bello A, Jelcic I, Sühs KW,Gasnault J, Goreci Y, Grauer O, Gnanapavan S, Wicklein R, Lambert N, Perpoint T, Beudel M, Clifford D, Sommet A, Cortese I, Martin-Blondel G, for the Immunotherapy for PMLStudy Group. Ann Neurol. 2023;93(2):257–270.

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Encephalitis in travellers: a prospective multicentre study.

Picard L, Mailles A, Fillâtre P, Tattevin P, Stahl JP; ENCEIF scientific committee. J Travel Med. 2023;30(2):taac145.

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CNS infections in resource-limited setting: Tetanus and eosinophilic meningitis

29 January 2026 at 16:00 CET

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Tuberculous meningitis; new guideline, new trial data and use of anti-inflammatory therapy

16 October 2025 at 14:00 CET

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Host versus pathogen in bacterial meningitis: The titanic battle between bacteria and the brain in animal models and patients

25 June 2025 at 15:00 CET

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Executive Committee

  Jacob Bodilsen

Jacob Bodilsen

Chair
Aalborg University Hospital, Infectious Diseases
Aalborg, Denmark
  Marion Le Marechal

Marion Le Marechal

Secretary
CHU de Grenoble
La Tronche, France
  Reinout van Crevel

Reinout van Crevel

Education Officer
Radboud University Medical Center
Nijmegen, Netherlands
  Emma Cecilia Wall

Emma Cecilia Wall

Science Officer
Francis Crick Institute
London, United Kingdom
  Marco Rinaldo Oggioni

Marco Rinaldo Oggioni

Treasurer
University of Bologna
Bologna, Italy

Contact

If you have questions or comments for our study group, we warmly invite you to contact us!

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