Table 2.
Patient characteristicsa
| Characteristic | n/N (%) | Characteristic | n/N (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 67 (46–77) | Indexes of inflammation in CSFe | |
| Female | 11/31 (36 %) | Leukocyte count (cells/mm3) | 656 (51–1787) |
| Predisposing factors | 13/27 (48 %) | Protein level (g/L) | 5.1 (2.4–7.2) |
| Otitis/sinusitis | 7/25 (28 %) | CSF/blood glucose ratio | 0.01 (0.00–0.15) |
| Pneumonia | 6/24 (25 %) | Antibiotic treatment | |
| Immunocompromised stateb | 7/27 (26 %) | 3rd gen cephalosporin + amoxicillin | 7/23 (35 %) |
| Symptoms and signs on admission | 3rd gen cephalosporin | 8/23 (30 %) | |
| Duration of symptoms >24 h | 12/23 (53 %) | Amoxicillin or penicillin | 4/23 (17 %) |
| Headache | 9/17 (53 %) | Other regimens | 3/23 (13 %) |
| Nausea | 8/15 (53 %) | Adjunctive dexamethasone | |
| Temperature ≥38 °C | 14/21 (67 %) | Started before or with first dose antibiotics | 11/25 (44 %) |
| Neck stiffness | 8/22 (36 %) | 10 mg QID 4 days | 10/25 (40 %) |
| Triad of neck stiffness, fever and altered mental status | 8/22 (36 %) | Started after first dose of antibiotics | 5/25 (20 %) |
| Seizures | 8/23 (35 %) | Complications | |
| Score on Glasgow Coma Scalec | 10 (7–11) | Cardiorespiratory failure | 17/26 (74 %) |
| Altered mental state (GCS <14) | 22/23 (96 %) | Mechanical ventilation | 18/22 (82 %) |
| Coma (GCS <8) | 8/22 (36 %) | Seizures | 8/19 (30 %) |
| Focal neurological deficits | Cerebral infarction | 8/18 (44 %) | |
| Blood chemistry testsd | Cerebral haemorrhage | 2/18 (11 %) | |
| Leukocyte count (x109/L) | 15 (8–20) | Cerebral herniation | 3 |
| Thrombocyte count (x109/L) | 189 (133–274) | Time to death (days)f | 7 (3–30) |
| C-reactive protein (mg/L) | 303 (204–403) | Early death (<7 days) | 14/27 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/h, range) | 51 (40–90) | Range | 2–62 days |
aData are presented as n/N (%) or median (interquartile range) bDefined as the use of immunosuppressive drugs, a history of cancer or diabetes mellitus. cGlasgow Coma Scale score was known for 23 patients. dLeukocyte count was known for 25 patients, thrombocyte count in 24 patients, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in 15 patients, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in 15 patients. eCSF leukocyte count was known in 23 patients, CSF protein concentration in 20 patients, CSF to blood glucose ratio in 23 patients. fTime from admission to death was known for 27 patients