Table 4:

Diagnostic performance of MR imaging findings for the diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitisa

MR Imaging FindingsSensitivitySpecificityPPVNPVAccuracy
Bacterial87.9% (77.5%–94.6%)95.7% (78.1%–99.9%)98.3% (89.5%–99.8%)73.3% (58.8%–84.1%)89.9% (81.7%–95.3%)
Viral73.3% (44.9%–92.2%)95.7% (78.1%–99.9%)91.7% (61.2%–98.7%)84.6% (70.2%–92.8%)86.8% (71.9%–95.6%)
  • a Numbers in parentheses are 95% confidence intervals. Data were obtained from brain MRIs within 7 days of presentation.