Univariate analysis of explanatory variables, obtained at inclusion, in 39 patients with meningococcal disease and 169 patients without invasive bacterial disease
| Meningococcal disease | No invasive bacterial disease | Significance of difference (p value) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explanatory variables | (n = 39) | (n = 169) | ||
| Case history prior to inclusion | ||||
| Fever, median duration (h) | 21 | 24 | n.s. | |
| Skin haemorrhages, median duration (h) | 9 | 12 | n.s | |
| Antibiotic treatment | 23% | 2% | <0.001 | |
| Coughing | 15% | 37% | <0.05 | |
| Vomiting | 44% | 40% | n.s | |
| Physical signs at inclusion | ||||
| Median temperature (°C) | 40.0 | 39.0 | <0.01 | |
| Nuchal rigidity | 41% | 3% | <0.001 | |
| General condition, median sum of scores | 6 | 9 | <0.001 | |
| Skin haemorrhages | ||||
| Individuals with >20 skin haemorrhages | 74% | 51% | <0.05 | |
| Maximum diameter >1 mm2-150 | 95% | 22% | <0.001 | |
| Maximum diameter >2 mm 2-150 | 74% | 8% | <0.001 | |
| Universal distribution | 92% | 40% | <0.001 | |
| Skin haemorrhages of types C–E (fig1) | 82% | 7% | <0.001 | |
| Blood tests at inclusion | ||||
| Leucocytes,109/l, median | 16.5 | 11.6 | <0.01 | |
| Neutrophil band forms,109/l, median | 1.8 | 0.3 | <0.001 | |
| Neutrophils, segmented,109/l, median | 10.8 | 5.6 | <0.01 | |
| Platelets,109/l, median | 226 | 288 | <0.05 | |
| CRP, mg/l, median | 109 | 20 | <0.001 | |
| APTT, % prolonged | 23% | 11% | n.s. | |
Variables selected for logistic regression analysis are italicised.
↵2-150 A single lesion of this size was sufficient for this classification.
APTT, activated partial thromboplastin time; CRP, C reactive protein.