Table 3.

Indications for Undergoing Head Computed Tomography Prior to Lumbar Puncture in 614 Patients With Community-Acquired Meningitis as per Infectious Diseases Society of America Criteria

Indications	No. (%) of Patients With Indicationa
Abnormal consciousnessb	118 (19.1)
Immunocompromisedc	83 (13.4)
Focal neurologic deficitd	43 (6.9)
New-onset seizures	26 (4.2)
History of CNS disease	18 (2.9)
Papilledema	1 (0.2)

Abbreviation: CNS, central nervous system.

^aSome patients may have >1 indication.

^bThirty-six of the 118 (30.5%) patients only had altered mental status without any other indication.

^cIncluding patients with human immunodeficiency virus, AIDS, organ transplantation, steroid use, recent chemotherapy, and other conditions affecting immune status.

^dFocal motor deficit (n = 40), cranial nerve abnormality (n = 1), or aphasia (n = 2).