Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the 54 patients with bacterial meningitis and 38 patients with pneumococcal meningitis in the serial sampling study
Characteristics | Patients (n = 54) n/N (%) | Pneumococcal meningitis patients (n = 38) n/N (%) |
|---|---|---|
Male | 35/54 (65%) | 22/38 (58%) |
Age in years, mean (SD) | 54 (21) | 61 (18) |
Symptoms and predisposing conditions | ||
 Duration of symptoms < 24 h  Sinusitis/otitis media  Pneumonia  Immunocompromised state | 22/52 (42%) 16/53 (30%) 3/48 (6%) 10/53 (19%) | 19/38 (50%) 13/37 (35%) 2/32 (6%) 31/38 (82%) |
Clinical characteristics on admission | ||
 Classic triad  Coma  Focal neurologic deficits | 20/49 (41%) 12/54 (22%) 12/53 (23%) | 19/34 (56%) 11/38 (29%) 10/37 (27%) |
Causing pathogen | ||
 S. pneumoniae  N. meningitidis  Other | 38/54 (70%) 5/54 (9%) 11/54 (21%) | 100% – – |
Laboratory characteristics on admission** | ||
 C-reactive protein (mg/L)  Blood leukocyte count (× 10^9 cells/L)  CSF leukocyte count (× 10^6 cells/L) | 141 (54–267) 18.3 (11.9–23.8) 2874 (685–7877) | 141 (59–293) 18.3 (11.9–26.6) 2462 (511–6170) |
Standard dose of dexamethasone therapy | 43/49 (88%) | 32/33 (97%) |
Clinical course/complications | ||
 Circulatory shock  Intensive care admission  Cerebral infarction | 6/47 (13%) 23/52 (44%) 6/47 (13%) | 6/33 (18%) 21/35 (60%) 6/32 (19%) |
Outcome at discharge | ||
 GOS 1  GOS 3  GOS 4  GOS 5 | 12/54 (22%) 5/54 (9%) 7/54 (13%) 30/54 (56%) | 11/38 (29%) 4/38 (11%) 4/38 (11%) 19/38 (50%) |
Mortality at 3Â months | 14/54 (26%) | 13/38 (34%) |