Observational studyBMC pediatrics2020
Comparison of antibiotic and acyclovir usage before and after the implementation of an on-site FilmArray meningitis/encephalitis panel in an academic tertiary pediatric hospital: a retrospective observational study.
Observational study in BMC pediatrics, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 37 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Utility of Using FilmArray Meningitis-Encephalitis PCR Panel (MEP) in Children Admitted With Meningitis and Encephalitis: Is It a Useful Stewardship Tool?The journal of pediatric pharmacology and therapeutics : JPPT : the official journal of PPAG · 2026Article
- Antibiotic use in children with suspected CNS infection in the molecular diagnostic era: a cohort study of 1198 children.JAC-antimicrobial resistance · 2026Article
- Enhancing meningitis diagnosis: a diagnostic stewardship workflow in a resource-limited setting.Microbiology spectrum · 2026Article
- Impact of the BioFire FilmArray Meningitis-Encephalitis Panel on Management of Suspected Paediatric Central Nervous System Infections: A Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study.Journal of paediatrics and child health · 2026Article
- Faster Results, Better Care? Impact of Meningitis/Encephalitis Syndromic Panel Testing on Pathogen Detection and Hospital Outcomes Beyond CSF Culture: A Literature Search for Diagnosticians.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Utility of the meningoencephalitis panel in management of neonates with temperature instability.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Decrease in SinglePlex Viral PCRs Use and acyclovir utilization following implementation of The BioFire Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel at A Tertiary Care Cancer Center.Journal of clinical virology plus · 2025Article
- Observational quality control study: insourcing multi-PCR-impact on the use of anti-infectives for patients with pleocytosis.Neurological research and practice · 2025Article
- An Assessment of a New Rapid Multiplex PCR Assay for the Diagnosis of Meningoencephalitis.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Analysis of the Clinical Impact of the BioFire FilmArray Meningitis Encephalitis Panel on Antimicrobial Use and Duration of Therapy at an Academic Medical Center.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Use of the FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis panel to detect pathogenic microorganisms in cerebrospinal fluid specimens: a single-center retrospective study.The Journal of international medical research · 2022Article
- Assessment of the Impact of a Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel on Hospital Length of Stay: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Clinical and Financial Impact of a Diagnostic Stewardship Program for Children with Suspected Central Nervous System Infection.The Journal of pediatrics · 2022Article
- Panels and Syndromic Testing in Clinical Microbiology.Clinics in laboratory medicine · 2020Review
- Impact of a Rapid Diagnostic Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel on Antimicrobial Use and Clinical Outcomes in Children.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPrompt initiation of empiric therapy is common practice in case of suspected meningitis or encephalitis. However, in children the most common pathogens are viruses that usually do not require and are not covered by the applied anti-infective treatment. Novel multiplex PCR (mPCR) panels provide rapid on-site diagnostic testing for a variety of pathogens. This study compared empiric antibiotic and acyclovir usage before and after the introduction of an on-site FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel (FA ME Panel).
methodsWe retrospectively compared data for empiric antibiotic and acyclovir usage between pediatric patients with suspected central nervous system (CNS) infection receiving mPCR testing and a matched historical control group. Patients were matched by age and suspected CNS infection. We included all patients for whom empiric antibiotics and/or acyclovir were prescribed.
resultsEach study group consisted of 46 patients with 29 (63.0%) infants and 17 (37.0%) older children. A viral pathogen was diagnosed in 5/46 (10.9%) patients in the control group (all enteroviruses) and in 14/46 (30.4%) patients in the mPCR group (enterovirus n = 9; human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) n = 5), (p = 0.038)). Length of Therapy (LoT) and Days of Therapy (DoT) for antibiotics were significantly lower for infants (4.0 vs. 3.0, p = 0.038 and 8.0 vs. 6.0, p = 0.015, respectively). Acyclovir therapy was significantly shorter for both, infants and older children (3.0 vs. 1.0 day, p < 0.001 for both age groups).
conclusionThe findings of our study suggest that the introduction of a FA ME Panel into clinical routine procedures is associated with a significantly reduced LoT and DoT of empiric anti-infective treatment in children with suspected meningoencephalitis. The largest effect was observed in infants.
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