Early clinical management of acute CNS infections: a prospective cohort study.

To explore early management and clinical predictors of patients with suspected CNS infections. In a prospective cohort study of 125 adult patients with suspected CNS infections, clinical features and early management time points were compared between groups with and without confirmed CNS infections. The door-to-lumbar puncture time was associated with the initial Glasgow Coma Scale score, the confirmed diagnosis and the time to change empirical treatment. Multivariate analysis indicated that the initial Glasgow Coma Scale score was an independent risk factor for prognosis. Lumbar puncture plays a crucial role in early management of CNS infections. Patients with CNS infection who have disturbances of consciousness should receive particular attention.