Clinical characteristics 542 patients with bacterial meningitis on admission and outcome.

aData are number/number evaluated (%), and median (interquartile range) unless otherwise stated.bImmunocompromised was defined as the use of immunosuppressive drugs, the presence of diabetes mellitus or alcoholism, and patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).cDefined as a systolic blood pressure ≤90 mmHg, a diastolic blood pressure dUnfavourable outcome was defined as a Glascow Outcome Score (GOS)