Table 3.

The details of included cohort studies.

Study	Diagnostic criteria	Treatment	Outcome	Significant prognostic factors from multivariate analysis or from univariate analysis with p < 0.05
Chang et al. (13)	CSF culture positive. Leukocyte >0.1*10∧9/L (with predominant polymorphonuclear) or CSF protein > 1.5 g/L and CSF glucose/blood glucose < 0.5	Empiric antibiotics = ampicillin and 3rd generation cephalosporin with or without aminoglycoside	Death and severely abnormal <=> poor outcome Normal and mild abnormal <=> good outcome	Seizure, fontanelle bulging, thrombocytopenia, CSF total protein, CSF glucose
Daoud et al. (9)	CSF culture positive or blood culture positive and CSF pleocytosis > 100/mm3	Ampicillin and gentamicin (1992 to mid-1993), cefotaximin or ceftazidime combined ampicillin (mid-1993 to 1994)	Mortality Having sequela	Bulging anterior fontanelle, altered sensorium
Lin et al. (11)	CSF culture positive	Not mentioned	Mortality Death and sequela <=> poor prognosis Complete recovery <=> good prognosis	Earlyonset, preterm, CSF Pro >500 mg/dl at admission, predisposing to congenital heart disease, hearing impairment, seizure
Tan et al. (12)	Having clinical signs. Either CSF culture positive or CSF WBC > 20*10∧6/L and blood culture positive. GA ≥ 37 w	Not mentioned	GCS = 5 <=> good outcome GCS = 1-4 <=> bad outcome	CSF protein, pneumonia, poor feeding, PLT
Klinger et al. (22)	CSF culture positive and GA ≥ 35 w	Not mentioned	Death or moderate or severe disability <=> adverse outcome	Seizure, coma, need for ventilation support, leukopenia
Kamoun et al. (14)	CSF culture positive. The combination of leukocyte >30/mm3, CSF pro > 1.3 g/L, CSF glu < 2.2 mmol/L or CSF/blood glucose <0.4	Not mentioned	Mortality Having sequela	Altered consciousness, CSF protein, CSF glucose
Bell et al. (19)	CSF culture positive or leukocyte > 100/mm3	Aminoglycoside with benzylpicillin, chloramphenicol, or a cephalosporin	Mortality	Weight <2,500 g, positive CSF culture