Brain in Danger: Diagnosing Quickly with the Syndromic Approach

Multiplex PCR enables rapid, simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens, improving diagnosis and management of central nervous system (CNS) infections. This study included 111 cerebrospinal fluid samples tested by FilmArray(R) M/E (bioMérieux). The detection rate was 13.5%, including 13 viruses and 3 bacteria. One case of co-infection (HSV-1 and enterovirus) was observed. Pathogens were mainly detected in patients from pediatrics and infectious diseases departments. The test identified a case of meningococcal meningitis that had been treated with antibiotics. One false positive for Streptococcus agalactiae was reported. Concordance with conventional PCR was 100% for herpes viruses. FilmArray(R) M/E has proved to be a reliable, rapid and sensitive complementary tool in the diagnosis of CNS infections.