Associations Between BioFire FilmArray Gastrointestinal Panel Results and Clinical Outcomes in Infectious...

Area of Science:

• Clinical microbiology
• Infectious diseases
• Healthcare management

Background:

• Infectious gastroenteritis (IGE) poses a significant global health burden.
• Rapid diagnostic tools are crucial for managing IGE and reducing healthcare costs.
• The BioFire FilmArray Gastrointestinal Panel (FA-GIP) offers multiplex pathogen detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between FA-GIP results and clinical outcomes in suspected IGE patients.
• To compare the diagnostic performance of FA-GIP with conventional stool culture.
• To assess the impact of FA-GIP on patient management and antibiotic utilization.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patients with suspected IGE at a tertiary care hospital.
• Stratification of patients into FA-GIP-positive and FA-GIP-negative groups.
• Comparison of clinical parameters, including hospital stay, time to discharge, and antibiotic use.

Main Results:

• FA-GIP significantly shortened diagnostic turnaround time compared to stool culture (1.4h vs. 72.3h).
• FA-GIP-positive patients experienced shorter hospital stays, faster discharge, and fewer antibiotic days.
• Differences in antibiotic modification/discontinuation rates were observed between groups.
• No significant demographic differences were noted between FA-GIP-positive and negative groups.

Conclusions:

• FA-GIP results are associated with clinically significant improvements in patient management and antibiotic use.
• The study highlights FA-GIP's potential to enhance antibiotic stewardship.
• Prospective studies are recommended to confirm the causative impact of FA-GIP on patient outcomes and antibiotic stewardship.