Previous studies have focused on medial temporal lobe epilepsy secondary to central nervous system infections. Several large-sample analyses of multi-lobe injuries or complications of medial temporal lobe epilepsy have been reported. The present study selected 29 patients (10 males and 19 females with a mean age of 18 years) with refractory epilepsy secondary to central nervous system infections (meningitis in 8, encephalitis in 21) from Beijing Functional Neurosurgical Institute from May 2006 to August 2008. All patients underwent computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, as well as electroencephalogram examinations; cortical electrodes were embedded in 11 patients. In addition, 13 (45%) patients underwent anterior temporal lobectomy, and 16 (56%) underwent extratemporal corcticectomy. Results showed that 18 (62%) patients obtained favorable outcomes following surgical treatment, including 80% with temporal lobe epilepsy and 50% with extratemporal epilepsy. Central nervous system infection was not a contraindication for epilepsy treatment, and identification of epileptic foci proved to be crucial. In addition, a young age at infection, as well as prolonged latent period from time of infection to initial afebrile seizure, were 2 predictive factors for all patients. Cortical electrodes significantly increased the detection rate of epileptic foci, but did not improve prognosis of foci excision.