A systemic immune challenge to model hospital-acquired infections independently regulates immune responses after pediatric traumatic brain injury.

Together, we found that a transient, infection-like systemic challenge had widespread effects on the brain and immune system, but these were not synergistic with prior TBI in pediatric mice. These findings provide novel insight into the potential influence of a secondary immune challenge to the injured pediatric brain, with future studies needed to elucidate the chronic effects of this two-hit insult.