The medical records of patients admitted within 48 hours of onset of symptoms to Prasat Neurological Institute from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2003, with a diagnosis of cerebral infarction, confirmed with CT or MRI of the brain were retrospectively studied. Collected data included clinical features, risk factors for stroke, comorbid conditions, infection, and results of diagnosis tests. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors that were associated with the risk of early infection.