Early or Late Bacterial Lung Infection Increases Mortality After Traumatic Brain Injury in Male Mice and Chronically Impairs Monocyte Innate Immune Function

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury causes monocyte functional impairments that may affect the host's susceptibility to respiratory infections. Chronically injured mice had greater mortality following S. pneumoniae infection, which suggests that respiratory infections even late after traumatic brain injury may pose a more serious threat than is currently appreciated.