Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the 54 patients with bacterial meningitis and 38 patients with pneumococcal meningitis in the serial sampling study
| Characteristics |
Patients (n = 54) n/N (%) |
Pneumococcal meningitis patients (n = 38) n/N (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 35/54 (65%) | 22/38 (58%) |
| Age in years, mean (SD) | 54 (21) | 61 (18) |
| Symptoms and predisposing conditions | ||
|
Duration of symptoms < 24 h Sinusitis/otitis media Pneumonia Immunocompromised state |
22/52 (42%) 16/53 (30%) 3/48 (6%) 10/53 (19%) |
19/38 (50%) 13/37 (35%) 2/32 (6%) 31/38 (82%) |
| Clinical characteristics on admission | ||
|
Classic triad Coma Focal neurologic deficits |
20/49 (41%) 12/54 (22%) 12/53 (23%) |
19/34 (56%) 11/38 (29%) 10/37 (27%) |
| Causing pathogen | ||
|
S. pneumoniae N. meningitidis Other |
38/54 (70%) 5/54 (9%) 11/54 (21%) |
100% – – |
| Laboratory characteristics on admission** | ||
|
C-reactive protein (mg/L) Blood leukocyte count (× 10^9 cells/L) CSF leukocyte count (× 10^6 cells/L) |
141 (54–267) 18.3 (11.9–23.8) 2874 (685–7877) |
141 (59–293) 18.3 (11.9–26.6) 2462 (511–6170) |
| Standard dose of dexamethasone therapy | 43/49 (88%) | 32/33 (97%) |
| Clinical course/complications | ||
|
Circulatory shock Intensive care admission Cerebral infarction |
6/47 (13%) 23/52 (44%) 6/47 (13%) |
6/33 (18%) 21/35 (60%) 6/32 (19%) |
| Outcome at discharge | ||
|
GOS 1 GOS 3 GOS 4 GOS 5 |
12/54 (22%) 5/54 (9%) 7/54 (13%) 30/54 (56%) |
11/38 (29%) 4/38 (11%) 4/38 (11%) 19/38 (50%) |
| Mortality at 3 months | 14/54 (26%) | 13/38 (34%) |