Patient's characteristics and clinical features in alcoholic and non-alcoholic patients with bacterial meningitis. a

aData are number/number evaluated (%) or median (interquartile range);bDefined as otitis/sinusitis, pneumonia or immunocompromise;cdefined as the use of immunosuppressive drugs or the presence of diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, asplenia, or HIV infection;dscores on the Glasgow Coma Scale range from 3 to 15, with 15 indicating a normal level of consciousness;edefined as fever, neck stiffness, and change in mental status;fdefined as the presence of focal cerebral deficits or cranial nerve palsies;gdefined as aphasia, mono- or hemiparesis.