Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis With the BioFire FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Molecular Panel Reduces Length of Hospital Stay in Patients With Suspected Central Nervous System Infections

Abstract

The Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel (MEP) is a sensitive and specific Food and Drug Administration-approved molecular diagnostic test for the 14 most common infectious etiologies of meningoencephalitis. Using a before-after controlled study design, MEP reduced length of hospital stay by 1.5 days, and this effect was mediated by the reduced time to final microbiology reporting.