Table I.
Characteristics of the 111 infants with bacterial meningitis
| Bacterial meningitis | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brain MRI | ||||
| Yes | No | Total | ||
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | P value | |
| No. of infants | 75 (68) | 36 (32) | 111 | - |
| Age, median, in d (range) | 76 ± 77 | 85 ± 86 | 78 ± 79 | .55 |
| Male | 40 (54) | 23 (64) | 63 (57) | .29 |
| Birth weight <2500 g | 13 (17) | 6 (16) | 19 (17) | .93 |
| Gestational age >37 wk | 60 (80) | 26 (72) | 86 (77) | .36 |
| Clinical features at presentation | ||||
| Duration of signs/symptoms in days; mean ± SD | 3 ± 5 | 2 ± 2 | 3 ± 4 | .07 |
| Apnea | 34 (46) | 3 (8) | 37 (33) | <.05 |
| Lethargy | 59 (79) | 22 (61) | 81 (73) | <.05 |
| Diarrhea | 20 (26) | 3 (8) | 23 (21) | <.05 |
| Emesis | 22 (29) | 10 (28) | 32 (28) | .86 |
| Seizures | 44 (58) | 4 (11) | 48 (43) | <.05 |
| Irritability | 71 (94) | 27 (75) | 98 (88) | <.05 |
| URI symptoms | 27 (36) | 11 (31) | 38 (34) | .57 |
| Bulging fontanel | 26 (35) | 7 (19) | 33 (30) | .1 |
| Intubation | 38 (51) | 7 (19) | 45 (40) | <.05 |
| Vasopressor therapy | 18 (24) | 4 (11) | 22 (20) | .11 |
| ICU stay in d; median (range) | 2 (0–68) | 0 (0–109) | 1 (0–109) | .07 |
| Hospital stay in d; median (range) | 21 (3–68) | 14 (6–119) | 21 (3–119) | <.01 |
| Leukopenia | 24 (32) | 5 (14) | 29 (26) | <.05 |
| Urinary tract infection | 9 (12) | 5 (14) | 14 (13) | .78 |
| Pneumonia | 10 (13) | 3 (8) | 13 (12) | .44 |
| Positive blood culture | 49 (65) | 7 (18) | 56 (50) | <.05 |
| Outcome | ||||
| Hearing impairment | 15 (20) | 4 (11) | 19 (17) | .24 |
| Mortality | 4 (3) | 1 (3) | 5 (5) | .97 |
| Gram-negative bacilli | 22 (29) | 13 (36) | 35 (32) | .47 |
| CSF* | ||||
| WBC count in cells/mm3†; mean ± SD | 2725 ± 3834 | 1226 ± 3467 | 2191 ± 3776 | <.05 |
| Protein in mg/dL; mean ± SD | 380 ± 419 | 231 ± 219 | 279 ± 258 | <.05 |
| Glucose in mg/dL; mean ± SD | 21 ± 20 | 46 ± 20 | 36 ± 20 | <.05 |
ICU, intensive care unit; URI, upper respiratory infection; WBC, white blood cell.
*
Of the 111 CSF samples, 10 (9%) were excluded because of RBC count >100 000 mm3.
†
WBC count of 37 (33%) of the 111 CSF samples was adjusted to account for red blood cell count >500/mm3.