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Table 5 Test characteristics of clinical and laboratory characteristics

From: Seizures in adults with suspected central nervous system infection

 

Neurological infection

Other diagnoses

Sens (95%CI)

Spec (95%CI)

PPV (95%CI)

NPV (95%CI)

 

Present

Absent

Present

Absent

    

Headache

10

10

23

48

50% (27%—73%)

68% (55% – 78%)

30% (20%—43%)

83 (75%—88%)

Nausea/vomiting

6

15

20

53

29% (11%—52%)

73% (61%—82%)

23% (12%—40%)

78% (72%—83%)

Immunocompromised

10

17

43

54

37 (19% – 57%)

56 (45%—66%)

19% (12%—29%)

76% (69%—82%)

Altered mental status (GCS ≤ 14)

24

3

83

13

89% (71%—98%)

14% (7%—22%)

22% (20%—25%)

81% (57%—94%)

Coma (GCS ≤ 8)

12

15

30

66

44% (25%—65%)

69% (58%—78%)

29% (19%—40%)

81% (75%—86%)

Neck stiffness

5

15

6

70

25% (8%—49%)

92% (84%—97%)

45% (22%—71%)

82% (78%—85%)

Generalized seizure

16

8

54

35

67% (45%-84%)

39% (29%—59%)

23% (18%—29%)

81% (70%—89%)

Diast BP < 50 mmHg

3

24

7

88

11% (2%—29%)

93% (85%—97%)

30% (11%—61%)

79% (66%—82%)

Tachycardia

7

20

10

85

26% (11%—46%)

89% (81%—95%)

41% (23%—62%)

81% (77%—84%)

Fever > 38.0 °C

15

12

26

69

56% (35%—75%)

73% (63%—81%)

37% (27%—48%)

85% (79%—89%)

Focal neurological abnormalities

8

19

45

52

30% (14%—50%)

54% (43%—64%)

15% (9%—25%)

73% (67%—79%)

Blood leukocytose (≥ 10.5)

15

12

56

40

56% (36%—75%)

42% (32%—52%)

21% (16%—28%)

77% (67%—84%)

CRP > 5 mg/L

19

7

53

34

73% (52%—88%)

39% (29%—50%)

26% (21%—32%)

83% (71%—91%)

CRP > 40 mg/L

13

13

19

68

50% (30%—70%)

78% (68%—86%)

41% (28%—54%)

84% (78%—89%)

CSF leukocytes ≥ 5/mm3

24

2

27

70

92% (75%—99%)

72% (62%—81%)

47% (39%—56%)

97% (90%—99%)

CSF leukocytes > 100/mm3

15

11

1

96

58% (37%—77%)

99% (94%—100%)

94% (67%—99%)

90% (85%—93%)

CSF protein > 0.6 g/L

18

9

25

72

67% (46%—83%)

74% (74%—83%)

42% (32%—53%)

89% (82%—93%)

CSF protein > 2 g/L

8

19

3

94

30% (14%—50%)

97% (91%—99%)

72% (43%—90%)

83% (79%—86%)

CSF pressure > 22 mm H2O

7

3

21

49

70% (35%—93%)

70% (58%—80%)

25% (16%—36%)

94% (86%—98%)

CSF:blood glucose ratio < 0.6

21

4

53

37

84% (64%—95%)

41% ( 31%—52%)

28% (24%—34%)

90% (78%—95%)