Table 3.
Characteristics of Patients Who Required Repeat Surgery and Those Who Did Not
| Factor | Repeat Surgery (n = 12) | No Repeat Surgery (n = 42) | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age at admission, median (IQR), y | 12.0 (10.5–14.3) | 10.8 (8.2–13.7) | .18 |
| Male gender, n (%) | 2 (17) | 16 (38) | .16 |
| Report of fever, n (%) | 10 (83) | 30 (71) | .41 |
| Report of headache, n (%) | 11 (92) | 31 (74) | .19 |
| Report of altered mental status, n (%) | 6 (50) | 9 (21) | .051 |
| New-onset seizure activity, n (%) | 2 (17) | 7 (17) | 1.00 |
| Days of symptoms prior to admission, median (IQR) | 7.0 (5.0–9.0) | 8.0 (5.0–14.0 | .39 |
| Prior visit to healthcare provider, n (%) | 11 (92) | 37 (88) | .73 |
| Number of prior healthcare visits, median (IQR) | 1.0 (1.0–2.0) | 2.0 (1.0–2.0) | .38 |
| Prescribed antibiotics prior to admission, n (%) | 5 (42) | 22 (52) | .51 |
| Abnormal neurological exam at admission, n (%) | 9 (75) | 20 (48) | .093 |
| White blood cell count at admission (cells × 103/ µL), median (IQR) | 15.0 (12.9–18.0) | 14.5 (11.6–17.3) | .78 |
| C-reactive protein level at admission (mg/dL), median (IQR) | 6.0 (4.7–23.4) | 8.8 (4.8–18.4) | .74 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/h), median (IQR) | 76.0 (60.0–101.0) | 74.5 (49.5–96.5) | .77 |
| Epidural abscess, n (%) | 5 (42) | 28 (67) | .12 |
| Subdural abscess, n (%) | 11 (92) | 19 (45) | .004 |
| Brain abscess, n (%) | 2 (17) | 6 (14) | .84 |
| Culture positive for Streptococcus anginosus spp., n (%) | 9 (75) | 25 (60) | .33 |
Abbreviation: IQR, interquartile range.