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Two-year experience with the multiple PCR panel meningitis-encephalitis panel in children in a third level hospital in Argentina
Published 2023-01-26
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2023 Ximena Soledad Juárez, Carmen Burundarena, Patricia María Dondoglio, Cecilia Irene Echave, Macarena Llanos, Rosana Olga Pereda, Aldo Daniel Cancellara
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Background: Bacterial meningitis and encephalitis are life-threatening infections, a delay in its treatment is associated with high mortality. In 2015, FDA approved the Multiplex PCR FilmArray™ meningitis/encephalitis syndromic panel (FA-MEP), and it is available in our hospital since 2019.
Aim: To estimate the number of positive FA-MEP, to evaluate the correlation to conventional culture (CC) results and to describe if the FA-MEP technology allowed changes in the treatment.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of children with meningitis, encephalitis and meningoencephalitis and pathological cerebrospinal fluid analysis between 2019-2021, who were subject to FA-MEP testing at the Pedro Elizalde Children´s Hospital.
Results: 32 children, mean age: 48 months. 11 patients had positive FA-ME tests: 7 bacterial, 6 viral. 2 patients correlated with CC. Based on the FA-MEP results, treatment was adjusted in 2 bacterial meningitis and the duration of intravenous treatment was shortened.
Discussion: Our study allowed to establish the etiology of 5 culture negative bacterial meningitis, (2 had prior antibiotics), administer chemoprophylaxis to close contacts, and to administer fewer doses of acyclovir.
Conclusions: The FA-MEP allowed us to identify 5 bacterial meningitis that tested negative by CC and early adjustment of inappropriate empirical antibiotics and to shorten the duration of parenteral treatments.