Community acquired-bacterial meningitis in adults.

We reviewed the charts of all patients > or = 15 years of age or older in whom community acquired-bacterial meningitis was diagnosed at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand from 1984 through 1998. Eighty-five patients were included in this study. The clinical manifestation was acute meningitis with CSF neutrophilic pleocytosis and low glucose content. Gram's staining of CSF was positive in 79%. The most common pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae (28%) and Escherichia coli (14%) respectively. The overall mortality was 34%.