Table 3 Baseline demographics-, clinical-, biochemical-, brain pathological- and causative pathogen data for the 4 most prevalent specific causes of death occurring within 14 days from admission
Baseline characteristics of patients dying from bacterial meningitis | Brain herniation | Global brain injury /unresponsive | Intractable seizures | Circulatory failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
n = 8 | n = 11 | n = 6 | n = 14 | |
Age (years) | 52 (38 to 75) | 68 (54 to 74) | 70 (62 to 83) | 55 (47 to 69) |
Male sex | 2 (25%) | 4 (36%) | 4 (67%) | 4 (29%) |
Survival days | 2 (1 to 2.8) | 10 (6 to 18) | 4.5 (3.8 to 5.8) | 3 (1.8 to 16.8) |
Clinical findings | ||||
Seizures before or on admission | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (17%) | 1 (7%) |
Glasgow Coma Scale score < 9 (GCS) | 4 (50%) | 7 (64%) | 2 (34%) | 3 (21%) |
Focal neurological deficits on admission | 2 (25%) | 3 (27%) | 1 (17%) | 4 (29%) |
Focus of infection (otitis media/sinuitis) | 3 (38%) | 2 (18%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Focus of infection (pneumonia) | 2 (25%) | 2 (18%) | 2 (33%) | 2 (14%) |
Systolic blood pressure on admission (mmHg) | 145 (120 to 181) | 172 (120 to 210) | 160 (122 to 170) | 106 (84.5 to 122.8) |
Pulse rate (beats/minute) | 83 (78 to 128) | 110 (103 to 129) | 102 (86 to 120) | 130 (93 to 186) |
Laboratory results | ||||
B-leucocytes (109/L) | 18.3 (8.9 to 24.5) | 16.5 (12.8 to 26.9) | 11.6 (7.7 to 25.0) | 15.7 (6.4 to 20.5) |
B-thrombocytes (109/L) | 183 (101 to 286) | 304 (128 to 452) | 208 (167 to 238) | 99 (68 to 201) |
B-creatinine (mmol/L) | 75 (63 to 90) | 69 (52 to 102) | 112 (95 to 141) | 197 (95 to 247) |
Cerebrospinal fluid-leucocytes (106/L) | 2742 (474 to 54.800) | 1040 (741 to 4330) | 932 (115 to 5326) | 558 (75 to 4566) |
Cerebrospinal fluid-protein (g/L) | 4.6 (2.8 to 9.9) | 6.1 (2.1 to 9.1) | 5.5 (3.6 to 7.2) | 1.9 (0.6 to 15.9) |
Brain imaging pathology | ||||
No. of patient with brain imaging pathology | 7 (88%) | 8 (72%) | 0 (0%) | 3 (23%) |
Brain infarction or haemorrhage | 1 (13%) | 6 (55%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (15%) |
Brain Hydrocephalus | 2 (25%) | 3 (27%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Brain edema | 5 (63%)* | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Microbiology | ||||
Patients with positive blood culture | 5 (63%) | 6 (55%) | 4 (67%) | 11 (79%) |
Streptococcus pneumoniae | 6 (75%) | 7 (64%) | 5 (83%) | 4 (29%) |
Neisseria meningittidis | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 3 (21%) |
Staphylococcus aureus | 0 (0%) | 2 (18%) | 0 (0%) | 4 (29%) |
Listeria | 0 (0%) | 1 (9%) | 1 (17%) | 0 (0%) |
Other streptococci | 0 (0%) | 1 (9%) | 0 (0%) | 3 (21%) |
Other gram negative bacteria | 2 (25%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |