Table 1.
Clinical features of bacterial meningitis at presentation.
| Variables | Total (n = 161) |
Community-acquired (n = 43) |
Healthcare-related (n = 118) |
P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 55.9 ± 15.5 | 64.6 ± 12.5 | 52.7 ± 15.3 | < 0.001 |
| Male | 50.9% | 60.5% | 47.5% | 0.144 |
| Body temperature, °C | 37.6 ± 1.0 | 37.6 ± 1.1 | 37.6 ± 1.0 | 0.948 |
| Body temperature ≥ 38 °C | 38.0% | 37.2% | 38.3% | 0.904 |
| Fever by history | 88.2% | 93.0% | 86.4% | 0.252 |
| Neck stiffness* | 62.5% | 73.7% | 52.4% | 0.049 |
| Mental status change | 52.2% | 74.4% | 44.1% | 0.001 |
| GCS score | 12.3 ± 3.8 | 11.2 ± 4.0 | 12.7 ± 3.7 | 0.032 |
| GCS score ≤ 8 | 20.5% | 30.2% | 16.9% | 0.065 |
| Symptom triad* | 31.3% | 47.4% | 16.7% | 0.003 |
| Systolic BP, mmHg | 134.5 ± 26.1 | 142.4 ± 29.8 | 131.6 ± 24.1 | 0.037 |
| Diastolic BP, mmHg | 79.4 ± 16.0 | 81.3 ± 13.9 | 78.7 ± 16.7 | 0.373 |
| Predisposing factors | ||||
| Immunocompromised | 19.3% | 11.6% | 22.0% | 0.138 |
| Concurrent infections | 27.3% | 14.0% | 32.2% | 0.027 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 17.4% | 27.9% | 13.6% | 0.034 |
| Recent neurosurgery† | 47.2% | 0 | 64.4% | < 0.001 |
| Neurosurgical devices | 46.0% | 0 | 62.7% | < 0.001 |
| CSF leakage | 7.5% | 2.3% | 9.3% | 0.184 |
Data are presented as mean ± SD or %. *Data were available in 85 cases. †Recent neurosurgery refers to neurosurgery within 1 month of the onset of meningitis. Abbreviations: GCS, Glasgow coma scale; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid.