Clinical course and outcome in alcoholic and non-alcoholic patients with bacterial meningitis.

aDefined as cardiorespiratoiy failure, need for mechanical ventilation or the presence of sepsis;
bdefined as systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg with positive blood culture;
cdefined as sodium<130 mmol per liter;
ddefined as impairment of consciousness, seizures and focal neurologic abnormalities;
edefined as the presence of focal cerebral deficits or cranial nerve palsies;
fdefined as aphasia, mono- or hemiparesis.