title: [Evaluation of an Xpert EV (Cepheid®) molecular diagnostic technique for enteroviral meningitis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays have shown to be useful and quick for the diagnosis of enterovirus in aseptic meningitis. The aim of our study was to analyse the changes in clinical practice after the introduction of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique using the Xpert EV (Cepheid®) assay for the qualitative detection of enterovirus RNA in cerebrospinal fluid specimens from children with suspected viral meningitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed in children older than 1year, diagnosed with enterovirus meningitis in a third level hospital from November 2006 to February 2013. The first period, before the availability of Xpert EV (Cepheid®) (Group1, November 2006-August 2010) was compared with the later period (Group2, September 2010-February 2013). Clinical characteristics, the mean length of stay, and the cost per inpatient cases, were compared between the 2periods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one patients (60.9% male) were included, with a median age of 64 months (interquartile range 28-96). Twenty-six patients (63.4%) were included in Group2. There were non-statistically significant differences in the epidemiological, disease severity, and laboratory characteristics between both periods of study. A significant difference was observed in the mean length of stay, with it being shorter in Group2 (48hours vs 40.5hours, P=.039), and a significant lower inpatient cost per case (€779.77 vs €656.05, P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Xpert EV (Cepheid®) assay was useful for decreasing the length of hospital stay and the costs associated with hospitalisation in children with enterovirus meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España. Electronic address: natalia.alonso.perez@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alonso Pérez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sagastizabal Cardelus
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Luis Manuel
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Prieto Tato
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España; Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guillén Martín
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González Torralba
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García Bermejo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: José Tomás
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ramos Amador
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Aseptic meningitis; Enterovirus; Meningitis aséptica; Polymerase chain reaction; Reacción en cadena de la polimerasa