TABLE 2.
Laboratory characteristics of the study patients by treatment group
| Dexamethasone n=50 | Placebo n=51 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number with bacteremia (%) | 32 (65) | 35 (70) |
| Etiological agent: number (%) | ||
| Haemophilus influenzae type b | 29 (58) | 28 (55) |
| Streptococcus pneumoniae | 7 (14) | 6 (12) |
| Neisseria meningitidis | 7 (14) | 11 (21) |
| Group B streptococci | 1 (2) | 0 (0) |
| No isolate | 6 (12) | 6 (12) |
| Findings in cerebrospinal fluid at diagnosis* | ||
| Total white blood cells (106/L) | 3070±2510 | 2956±3221 |
| Protein (g/L) | 2.50±1.87 | 2.01±1.73 |
| Glucose (mmol/L) | 1.99±1.73 | 2.36±1.35 |
| Positive Gram stain: number (%) | 34 (71) | 34 (67) |
| Positive culture: number (%) | 40 (80) | 39 (77) |
*
Means are given ± SD