Table 3 Prognostic factors of the 87 elderly patients with bacterial meningitis

Age (years); median (range)

71 (65 - 82)

75.1 (66 - 87)

0.659

Gender

Male

32

21

1.000

Female

21

13

Underlying condition

Diabetes mellitus

20

10

0.493

Liver cirrhosis

1

2

0.558

Alcoholism

1

3

0.295

End stage renal disease

0

6

0.003*

Malignancy

2

2

0.642

Spontaneous

19

20

0.047*

Community-acquired

25

19

0.512

Clinical presentation

Fever

46

29

1.000

Altered consciousness

31

23

0.498

Seizure

11

15

0.030*

Shock

1

9

0.001*

Hydrocephalus

20

13

1.000

Brain abscess

4

3

1.000

Liver abscess

2

0

0.518

Positive blood culture

6

12

0.013*

Leukocytosis

25

21

0.196

Cerebrospinal fluid, median (IQR)

White cell count (10⁹/L)

0.18 (0.03, 0.83)

0.45 (0.12, 1.27)

Glucose (mmol/L)

3.16 (1.29, 4.32)

1.98 (0.48, 4.00)

Protein (g/L)

1.09 (0.74, 3.32)

2.72 (1.58, 5.31)

Lactate (mmol/L)

4.01 (3.16, 14.68)

9.17 (5.35, 17.13)