TY - JOUR

T1 - Pneumococcal meningitis

T2 - an evaluation of prognostic factors in 164 cases based on mortality and on a study of lasting sequelae

AU - Bohr, V

AU - Rasmussen, N

AU - Hansen, B

AU - Gade, A

AU - Kjersem, H

AU - Johnsen, N

AU - Paulson, O

PY - 1985/3

Y1 - 1985/3

N2 - During the period 1966-76, 164 patients with pneumococcal meningitis were admitted to the University Hospital, Copenhagen. Of 111 survivors 94 underwent a series of clinical examinations. The findings in each patient were assessed for their aetiological relationship to meningitis. Of these patients 54% had neurological sequelae, 42% had neuropsychological sequelae, 25% had otological sequelae and 16% had sequelae as judged by computer-assisted tomography of the brain. On the basis of the general clinical condition, each patient was evaluated for the presence of sequelae of meningitis by means of a rating of nil, mild, moderate or severe. These ratings and mortality rates were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of various features present during the acute illness. A fatal outcome was significantly associated with increasing age, concomitant pneumonia, altered consciousness on admission, transfer from another hospital and development of complications while in hospital. There was a statistically significant association between lasting sequelae and the female sex, the age group of 16-50 years, patients who had not received any pre-admission antibiotic therapy and those with positive bacterial cultures of specimens from sites other than blood or cerebrospinal fluid.

AB - During the period 1966-76, 164 patients with pneumococcal meningitis were admitted to the University Hospital, Copenhagen. Of 111 survivors 94 underwent a series of clinical examinations. The findings in each patient were assessed for their aetiological relationship to meningitis. Of these patients 54% had neurological sequelae, 42% had neuropsychological sequelae, 25% had otological sequelae and 16% had sequelae as judged by computer-assisted tomography of the brain. On the basis of the general clinical condition, each patient was evaluated for the presence of sequelae of meningitis by means of a rating of nil, mild, moderate or severe. These ratings and mortality rates were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of various features present during the acute illness. A fatal outcome was significantly associated with increasing age, concomitant pneumonia, altered consciousness on admission, transfer from another hospital and development of complications while in hospital. There was a statistically significant association between lasting sequelae and the female sex, the age group of 16-50 years, patients who had not received any pre-admission antibiotic therapy and those with positive bacterial cultures of specimens from sites other than blood or cerebrospinal fluid.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Age Factors

KW - Consciousness

KW - Denmark

KW - Female

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - Hearing Disorders/etiology

KW - Hospitalization

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Memory Disorders/etiology

KW - Meningitis, Pneumococcal/complications

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Nervous System Diseases/etiology

KW - Neuropsychological Tests

KW - Prognosis

KW - Risk

KW - Sex Factors

KW - Time Factors

U2 - 10.1016/s0163-4453(85)91585-3

DO - 10.1016/s0163-4453(85)91585-3

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 4008963

VL - 10

SP - 143

EP - 157

JO - Journal of Infection

JF - Journal of Infection

SN - 0163-4453

IS - 2

ER -