Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31984242›Full record

ArticleWellcome open research2019

Checklists to guide the supportive and critical care of tuberculous meningitis.

Joseph Donovan, Ursula K Rohlwink, Elizabeth W Tucker, Nguyen Thi Thu Hiep, Guy E Thwaites, Anthony A Figaji, Tuberculous Meningitis International Research Consortium

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Wellcome open research, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. A clinical practice guideline for tuberculous meningitis.The Lancet. Infectious diseases · 2026
    Guideline
  2. Intrathecal Isoniazid and Dexamethasone Therapy May Improve Outcomes in Patients With Tuberculous Meningitis: A 2-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.

Joseph DonovanOxford University Clinical Research Unit, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5893-336X
Ursula K RohlwinkNeuroscience Institute and Division of Neurosurgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4469-4935
Elizabeth W TuckerDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0971-3635
Nguyen Thi Thu HiepOxford University Clinical Research Unit, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Guy E ThwaitesOxford University Clinical Research Unit, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2858-2087
Anthony A FigajiNeuroscience Institute and Division of Neurosurgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa.
Tuberculous Meningitis International Research Consortium
University of Cape Town · ZAUniversity of Oxford · GBJohns Hopkins University · USOxford University Clinical Research Unit · VN

Funding

Novel Imaging and host-directed therapy in pediatric CNS TBK08AI139371 · NIAID · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI TUCKER, ELIZABETH WINANS · 2019 to 2023
$994k
Medical Research Council MR/R007942/1NIAID NIH HHS K08 AI139371Wellcome Trust 110179/Z/15/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The assessment and management of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is often complex, yet no standardised approach exists, and evidence for the clinical care of patients, including those with critical illness, is limited. The roles of proformas and checklists are increasing in medicine; proformas provide a framework for a thorough approach to patient care, whereas checklists offer a priority-based approach that may be applied to deteriorating patients in time-critical situations. We aimed to develop a comprehensive assessment proforma and an accompanying 'priorities' checklist for patients with TBM, with the overriding goal being to improve patient outcomes. The proforma outlines what should be asked, checked, or tested at initial evaluation and daily inpatient review to assist supportive clinical care for patients, with an adapted list for patients in critical care. It is accompanied by a supporting document describing why these points are relevant to TBM. Our priorities checklist offers a useful and easy reminder of important issues to review during a time-critical period of acute patient deterioration. The benefit of these documents to patient outcomes would require investigation; however, we hope they will promote standardisation of patient assessment and care, particularly of critically unwell individuals, in whom morbidity and mortality remains unacceptably high.

Indexed as

checklistcritical careproformaTuberculous meningitis

Identifiers

PMID31984242
PMCPMC6964359
OpenAlexW2982615188

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.