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Assessment of the FilmArray® multiplex PCR system and associated meningitis/encephalitis panel in the diagnostic

Amanda Mostyn1, Marie Lenihan1, Donnchadh O'Sullivan2

  • 1Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

Infection Prevention in Practice
|August 9, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The FilmArray® meningitis/encephalitis Panel (MEP) offers rapid detection of M/E pathogens in CSF. This multiplex PCR test significantly reduces diagnosis time, improving patient outcomes for central nervous system infections.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical microbiology
  • Infectious disease diagnostics
  • Molecular diagnostics

Background:

  • Accurate diagnosis of meningitis/encephalitis (M/E) is critical for patient outcomes.
  • Current diagnostic methods can be time-consuming, delaying treatment.
  • Multiplex PCR offers potential for simultaneous pathogen detection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the performance of the FilmArray® meningitis/encephalitis Panel (MEP) for rapid M/E diagnosis.
  • To assess the turnaround time of MEP compared to existing diagnostic methods.
  • To determine the utility of MEP in a clinical microbiology setting.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective analysis of 94 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from patients with suspected M/E.
  • Simultaneous testing for 14 M/E pathogens using the FilmArray® MEP.
  • Comparison of MEP results with current PCR methods.

Main Results:

  • The FilmArray® MEP showed 95% agreement with existing PCR methods.
  • MEP identified 16 cases of M/E from the tested specimens.
  • Results were delivered in approximately one hour, compared to up to 5.6 days for conventional methods.

Conclusions:

  • The FilmArray® MEP provides rapid and accurate detection of M/E pathogens.
  • The test significantly reduces diagnostic turnaround time for central nervous system infections.
  • MEP is a valuable tool for clinical microbiology departments, aiding timely patient management.
Keywords:
DiagnosisEconomic benefitImproved patient outcomeMeningitis/encephalitisMultiplex PCRReduced time

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