Table 1 Baseline characteristics and outcome of episodes initially admitted to the ICU

Median age (IQR), years^a

61 (49–69)

Positive blood culture

957/1197 (80%)

Female sex

632/1369 (46%)

Causative pathogen

Symptoms < 24 h

637/1300 (49%)

S. pneumoniae

1,071/1369 (78%)

Recurrent meningitis

65/1367 (5%)

N. meningitidis

124/1369 (9%)

CSF leak

28/1364 (2%)

L. monocytogenes

36/1369 (3%)

Extrameningeal infection

656/1356 (48%)

H. influenzae

27/1,369 (2%)

Otitis or sinusitis

517/1317 (39%)

Initial treatment

Endocarditis

26/1312 (2%)

Amoxicillin + third-generation cephalosporin

802/1367 (59%)

Pneumonia

141/1313 (11%)

Amoxicillin monotherapy

60/1367 (4%)

Immunocompromised state

458/1369 (33%)

Third-generation cephalosporin monotherapy

354/1,367 (26%)

 Active cancer

65/1360 (5%)

Other antibiotic regimen

151/1367 (11%)

 Diabetes

206/1363 (15%)

Adjunctive dexamethasone conform protocol

1134/1326 (86%)

 HIV

11/1367 (1%)

Radiological examination on admission

 Asplenia

27/1,367 (2%)

Abnormal CT/MRI brain scan

602/1258 (48%)

 Alcoholism

110/1,364 (8%)

Generalized oedema

134/1238 (11%)

Immunosuppressive treatment

120/1361 (9%)

Hydrocephalus

72/1241 (6%)

Symptoms on admission

Hypodensity (recent)

63/1234 (5%)

Headache

855/1,103 (78%)

Mastoid opacification

317/1200 (26%)

Nausea

572/1,050 (54%)

Sinus opacification

224/1189 (19%)

Neck stiffness

866/1216 (71%)

Clinical course

Rash

123/1202 (10%)

Pneumonia

247/1268 (19%)

Median temperature (°C)^b

38.9 (37.9–39.7)

Circulatory shock

220/1272 (17%)

Fever (> 38 °C)

979/1325 (74%)

Respiratory failure

470/1300 (36%)

Heart rate (beats/minute)^c

100 (86–120)

Mechanical ventilation

715/1329 (54%)

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)^d

144 (125–164)

Seizures

230/1313 (18%)

Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)^e

80 (69–91)

Cerebral infarction

206/1258 (16%)

Glasgow Coma Scale Score^f

10 (8–12)

Mono-, hemiparesis or aphasia

362/1,220 (30%)

Altered mental status (GCS < 14)

1,155/1360 (85%)

Sinus thrombosis

38/1,236 (3%)

Coma (GCS < 8)

431/1360 (32%)

Outcome

Seizures

154/1,294 (12%)

Total duration of hospital stay (days)^p

15 (12–24)

Babinski reflex

212/1109 (19%)

Days to death^q

6 (2–14)

Cranial nerve palsy

97/1074 (9%)

Duration of ICU stay (days)^r

3 (2–8)

Mono-, hemiparesis or aphasia

269/1163 (23%)

Glasgow Outcome Score

-

Blood results

1 (death)

304/1,369 (22%)

C-reactive protein (mg/L)^g

204 (97–317)

2 (vegetative state)

4/1369 (0%)

Leukocytes (× 10^9/L)^h

17 (12–23)

3 (severe disability)

77/1369 (6%)

Thrombocytes (× 10^9/L)ⁱ

190 (142–252)

4 (moderate disability)

258/1369 (19%)

Glucose (mmol/L)^j

9.4 (7.7–11.9)

5 (mild or no disability)

726/1,369 (53%)

CSF chemistry

Neurological sequelae

Opening pressure (cm H₂O)^k

48 (34–50)

Cognitive impairment

220/878 (25%)

Protein (g/L)^l

4.4 (2.7–6.5)

Cranial nerve palsy

130/914 (14%)

Glucose (mmol/L)^m

0.30 (0.10–2.20)

Mono-, hemiparesis or aphasia

74/934 (8%)

CSF:blood glucose ratioⁿ

0.03 (0.01–0.23)

Hearing impairment

342/1028 (33%)

White cell count (per mm³)^o

2850 (592–7595)

Type of hospital

 < 100 per mm³

150/1293 (12%)

Academic hospital

217/1369 (16%)

100–999 per mm3

263/1293 (20%)

Large non-academic hospital

628/1369 (46%)

 > 999 per mm3

880/1293 (68%)

Regional hospital

524/1369 (38%)