Role of cerebrospinal fluid lactate in diagnosing meningitis in critically ill patients

Table 1 Basic characteristics, clinical parameters and hospital course

Patient parameters	Overall (n = 71), %	Meningitis group (n = 23) , %	Non-Meningitis Group (n = 48), %	P value
Age, yr	58.1 ± 16	57.8 ± 15.4	58.9 ± 17.3	0.820
Males	23 (32.4)	10 (43.5)	13 (27.1)	0.167
Clinical parameters
Headache	25 (35.2)	11 (47.8)	14 (29.2)	0.123
Seizures	46 (64.8)	17 (73.9)	29 (60.4)	0.265
Fever	50 (70.4)	16 (69.6)	34 (70.8)	0.871
Altered sensorium	70 (98.6)	23 (100)	47 (97.9)	0.486
Photophobia	5 (7)	3 (13)	2 (4)	0.171
Coma	24 (33.8)	9 (39.1)	15 (31.3)	0.511
Antibiotic exposure before CSF analysis	65 (91.5)	22 (95.7)	43 (89.6)	0.39
Traumatic brain injury	2 (3)	0 (0)	2 (4)	0.321
Neurosurgical intervention	4 (5.6)	3 (13)	1 (2)	0.061
Neurosurgical device in-situ	4 (5.6)	3 (13)	1 (2)	0.061
Glasgow coma scale	9.5 ± 4	9 ± 4	9.7 ± 4	0.508
Neck stiffness	4 (5.6)	4 (17.4)	0 (0)	0.003a
Focal neurological deficit	14 (19.7)	5 (21.7)	9 (18.8)	0.767
Length of stay in hospital	21.1 ± 16	21.9 ± 8.9	21 ± 18.2	0.053
Length of stay in ICU	10.4 + 8.9	12.1 ± 6.3	9.6 ± 9.8	0.005a
Need for any surgical intervention	20 (28.2)	10 (43.5)	10 (20.8)	0.047a
Need for invasive mechanical ventilation	27 (38)	13 (56.5)	14 (29.2)	0.026a
ICU mortality	20 (28.2)	10 (43.5)	10 (20.8)	0.047a

^aP value statistically significant.

CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid; ICU: Intensive care unit.