Geiseler et al listed risk factors associated with community-acquired bacterial meningitis. The authors are from the University of Illinois, Veterans Administration West Side Medical Center, Rush Medical College and Municipal Contagious Diseases Hospitals in Chicago.
Patient selection: purulent bacterial meningitis
Predisposing factors:
(1) history of head trauma with skull fracture, head laceration, gunshot wound or CSF rhinorrhea
(2) acute otitis media, orbital cellulitis or sinusitis
(3) endocarditis
(4) pneumonia
(5) head and neck surgery
(6) impaired host defenses including complement deficiency
(7) malnutrition
(8) diabetes
(9) malignancy
(10) congenital diseases or neonatal complications
(11) sickle cell anemia
(12) splenectomy
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