Table 1 Clinical characteristics of 792 pneumococcal meningitis patients with and without CSF available
Characteristics | Patients with CSF (n = 307) | Patients without CSF (n = 485) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
Age (year) | 62 (51–70) | 61 (51–70) | 0.96 |
Male | 142/307 (46) | 242/458 (53) | 0.32 |
Duration of symptoms <24Â h | 140/297 (47) | 233/464 (50) | 0.41 |
Predisposing conditions | 202/307 (66) | 318/485 (66) | 0.95 |
 Otitis or sinusitis | 121/306 (40) | 205/483 (42) | 0.42 |
 Pneumonia | 28/298 (9) | 53/461 (11) | 0.36 |
 Immunocompromised | 96/307 (31) | 119/485 (25) | 0.04 |
Symptoms and signs on presentation | a | d | Â |
 Headache | 221/267 (83) | 345/415 (83) | 0.90 |
 Neck stiffness | 224/297 (75) | 340/447 (76) | 0.84 |
 Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 148 (130–169) | 145 (126–165) | 0.29 |
 Heart rate (bpm) | 100 (86–112) | 100 (88–115) | 0.78 |
 Body temperature (°C) | 39.0 (38.2–39.7) | 39.0 (38.0–39.7) | 0.26 |
Score on Glascow Coma Scale | 10 (8–13)b | 10 (9–13)e | 0.70 |
 <8 indicating coma | 40/306 (13) | 80/483 (17) | 0.18 |
Focal neurologic deficits | 90/306 (29) | 139/481 (29) | 0.88 |
Indexes of CSF inflammation | c | f | Â |
 Opening pressure | 37 (27–43) | 35 (28–45) | 0.66 |
 White blood cell count (/mm3) | 2560 (460–6667) | 2567 (516–7048) | 0.60 |
 White blood cell count <1000/mm3 | 103/295 (35) | 153/465 (33) | 0.57 |
 Protein (g/l) | 4.1 (2.5–6.0) | 4.2 (2.5–6.2) | 0.61 |
 CSF blood glucose ratio | 0.02 (0.00–0.23) | 0.01 (0.00–0.16) | 0.06 |
Positive blood culture | 215/267 (81) | 341/423 (81) | 0.98 |
Score on Glasgow Outcome Scale | |||
 1—death | 43/307 (14) | 101/485 (21) | 0.02 |
 2—vegetative state | 0/307 (0) | 1/485 (0) | 0.43 |
 3—severe disability | 14/307 (5) | 27/485 (6) | 0.53 |
 4—moderate disability | 64/307 (21) | 77/485 (16) | 0.08 |
 5—good recovery | 186/307 (61) | 279/485 (58) | 0.39 |