Cerebrospinal fluid glucose levels and sensorineural hearing loss in bacterial meningitis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glucose levels have been associated with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in bacterial meningitis but systematic investigations are lacking. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case control study was conducted comparing CSF glucose levels in 47 cases with and 145 controls without SNHL following bacterial meningitis. RESULTS: The mean CSF glucose level (standard deviation [SD]) was 1.3 mmol/l (1.2) in cases and 2.5 mmol/l (1.6) in controls (p < 0.001). The difference between the groups was significant for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae but not for Neisseria meningitidis infection. It was independent of the delay of treatment if this was greater than 12 h. This delay was significantly longer in cases compared to controls. CONCLUSION: In bacterial meningitis other than that caused by N. meningitidis and independent of the duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis, CSF glucose levels were significantly lower in patients developing a SNHL compared to controls.