Table 1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Inclusion criteria	Exclusion criteria
Cases:	Did not provide informed consent.
At least 15 year-old	Recent history of bacterial meningitis (<1 year before admission).
Streptococcus suis meningitis or sepsis confirmed by blood culture, CSF culture, or CSF real-time PCR	Did not regain full consciousness (GCS 15) within 14 days after admission.
Admitted to CNS disease ward	Transferred to other hospitals within 7 days after admission
Hospital controls:	HIV positive.
At least 15 year-old
Confirmed bacterial meningitis (not S. suis), eosinophilic meningitis, cryptococcal meningitis, viral encephalitis/meningitis* or malaria (confirmed by blood smear)
Admitted to CNS disease ward
Community controls:
Living in the same commune as case for at least 4 weeks until inclusion of case
Age matched with case (10 years range)

(*) Viral encephalitis/meningitis was diagnosed on the basis of confirmation by positive diagnostic PCR or serology of CSF sample, or if the patient completely regained consciousness during treatment with antimicrobial agents for a duration of 48 hours or less.