Enhancing pathogen identification in patients with meningitis and a negative Gram stain using the BioFire FilmArray(®) Meningitis/Encephalitis panel.
BACKGROUND
Meningitis with a negative cerebrospinal (CSF) Gram stain represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the performance of the BioFire FilmArray(®) Meningitis/Encephalitis (FA ME) panel in patients presenting with community-acquired meningitis with a negative Gram stain.


METHODS
CSF from 48 patients with community-acquired meningitis with a negative Gram stain admitted to four hospitals in Houston, TX underwent additional testing by the FA ME. FA ME results were compared to results obtained as part of routine evaluation.


RESULTS
The panel detected pathogens not previously identified in 11 (22.9 %) of 48, but did not detect pathogens identified by standard technique (West Nile virus, Histoplasma) in 5 (15.2 %) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Rapid testing for the most common pathogens causing meningitis will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with meningitis.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas (UT) Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
Susan H
SH
Wootton
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas (UT) Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
Elizabeth
E
Aguilera
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas (UT) Health Science Center, 6431 Fannin St. 2.112 MSB, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
Lucrecia
L
Salazar
BioFire Diagnostics, LLC, Salt Lake City, 84108, USA.
Andrew C
AC
Hemmert
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas (UT) Health Science Center, 6431 Fannin St. 2.112 MSB, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. Rodrigo.Hasbun@uth.tmc.edu.
Rodrigo
R
Hasbun
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005840:Gentian Violet / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010619:Phenazines / Q000737:chemistry*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
C035863:Gram's stain; D010619:Phenazines; D005840:Gentian Violet
Aseptic meningitis; Encephalitis; Molecular diagnostic techniques; Polymerase chain reaction