Validation of the Bacterial Meningitis Score in adults consulting at an emergency department: a retrospective multicentric study.

Objective: The Bacterial Meningitis Score (BMS) is recommended by pediatric academic societies to rule out the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the BMS to identify adults at no risk for bacterial meningitis.

Methods: We conducted a multicentric retrospective study including adults who consulted the emergency department (ED) for meningitis [cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cells ≥5/mm with a ratio of white blood cells/red blood cells <1:900) during a 4-year period.