Table 2. Crude incidence rates per 100,000 population and proportions of lumbar puncture procedures among hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of VE or VM, Ireland, 2005–2008*.
| Rate or proportion | Year of discharge/laboratory confirmation |
Average annual rate or proportion | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | ||
| Hospitalization rate for all patients with lumbar puncture† |
99.20 |
116.30 |
120.05 |
129.53 |
116.27 |
| VE patient hospitalization rate | 2.45 | 2.26 | 2.55 | 2.71 | 2.49 |
| Hospitalization rate among VE patients with lumbar puncture | 1.18 | 1.18 | 1.44 | 1.44 | 1.31 |
| % VE hospitalizations with lumbar puncture |
48.16 |
52.21 |
56.47 |
53.14 |
52.61 |
| VM patient hospitalization rate | 6.18 | 10.05 | 5.17 | 6.13 | 6.88 |
| Hospitalization rate among VM patients with lumbar puncture | 4.34 | 7.38 | 3.89 | 4.74 | 5.09 |
| % VM hospitalizations with lumbar puncture |
70.23 |
73.43 |
75.24 |
77.32 |
73.98 |
| CSF collection rate of samples sent for virologic testing |
31.46 |
40.71 |
39.65 |
41.53 |
38.34 |
| Laboratory CSF confirmation rate of VE | 0.50 | 0.42 | 0.42 | 0.71 | 0.51 |
| % Laboratory confirmed CSF for VE |
1.59 |
1.03 |
1.06 |
1.71 |
1.33 |
| Laboratory CSF confirmation rate of VM | 0.28 | 2.83 | 1.11 | 2.24 | 1.62 |
| Laboratory confirmed CSF for VM, % |
0.89 |
6.95 |
2.80 |
5.39 |
4.23 |
| Laboratory CSF confirmation rate of VE or VM | 0.78 | 3.25 | 1.53 | 2.95 | 2.13 |
| % Laboratory confirmed CSF for VE or VM | 2.48 | 7.98 | 3.69 | 7.10 | 5.56 |
*VE, viral encephalitis; VM, viral meningitis; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid. †All hospitalized patients who underwent lumbar puncture for any reason, diagnostic or therapeutic.