Table for Ascertaining Whether Differences between Percentages are Statistically Significant
R. F. Garside · BMJ · 1958
STAPHYLOCOCCAL SPINAL MENINGITISMEDICARLJURHNAL 1459 days she developed frontal headache, and on the day of admission complained for the first time of a stiff neck.On examination she was toxic and ill, with a high fever (1040 F.-40° C.) and rapid pulse (148 a minute).She showed gross back and neck stiffness, but no local bone tender- ness or signs of cord compression.The C.S.F. was turbid and xanthochromic under markedly reduced pressure, and examination showed 5,000 polymorphs per c.mm., protein 1,950 mg./100 ml., and sugar 35 mg./100 ml.Staph.pyo- genes was grown from both blood and C.S.F.culture.Treatment was started at once with 10,000 units of penicillin intrathecally, 1 million units intramuscularly, 2 g. of sulphadimidine and 1 g. of streptomycin intramuscularly.Despite this she died suddenly a few hours a'fter admission.Necropsy (Dr.J. S. Faulds) showed multiple staphylococcal lung abscesses, a small splenic abscess, and severe toxic changes in liver and heart muscle.Detailed examination of the vertebrae failed to show any obvious osteomyelitis, and there was no epidural collection of pus.The meningeal changes were marked in the spinal canal, but much less obvious at the base of the brain, and virtually absent over the vertex.