Aim: We aimed to investigate the demographic data, diagnosesand predictive factors for infection in patients admitted to theemergency department with central nervous system (CNS)symptoms and signs.Material and Method: We retrospectively analyzed 88 casesadmitted to the emergency department of a tertiary careuniversity training and research hospital with central nervoussystem symptoms in terms of demographic data, examinationfindings, hospitalization status, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)culture growth and mortality. The cases were analyzed in 3groups as central nervous system infection, non-infectiouscentral nervous system pathologies and pathologies otherthan central nervous system.Results: Out of 88 patients, 17 (19.3%) had central nervoussystem infection. Purulent meningitis was diagnosed in 11(64.7%) and encephalitis in 6 (35.2%) of these cases. Complaintsof vomiting, CSF culture collection rate, Kernig sign positivity,nuchal rigidity and hospitalization rate were significantlyhigher in the CNS infection group compared to the other twogroups. There was no difference between the groups in termsof mortality. In cases of purulent meningitis, CSF cultures werecollected from 9 of 11 patients and growth was observed in2 samples (22.2%). Klebsiella pneumoniae and Haemophilusinfluenzae were grown in CSF in 1 patient with a shunt.Conclusion: CNS infections are a cause of morbidity andmortality and patients presenting to the emergencydepartment with signs and symptoms of CNS infection requirerapid and careful evaluation. Non-CNS pathologies and noninfectiousCNS pathologies should also be considered in thesecases.