# The Evaluation of the BioFire FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel for the Detection of Bacteria and Yeast in Cerebrospinal Fluid Specimens

## TL;DR

This study evaluates a rapid molecular test for detecting bacteria and yeast in cerebrospinal fluid, showing it is more sensitive and faster than traditional methods for diagnosing meningitis.

## Contribution

The study provides a real-world evaluation of the BioFire FilmArray panel's performance in a clinical setting over four years.

## Key findings

- The FilmArray panel showed an 86% overall agreement rate with traditional methods.
- It had 100% sensitivity for detecting common bacterial pathogens like E. coli K1 and S. pneumoniae.
- The sensitivity for Cryptococcus neoformans was 83%.

## Abstract

Background and objective

Infectious meningitis and encephalitis are serious diseases that can have fatal consequences, especially in the case of bacterial meningitis. Molecular biology has made it possible to quickly introduce appropriate treatment.

Our study aims to evaluate the FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Panel (BioFire Diagnostics, Salt Lake City, Utah) implemented in our department compared to traditional methods.

Material and methods

This was a retrospective single-center study conducted in the Department of Bacteriology of Mohammed V Military Training Hospital, Rabat, for a period of four years. All cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with symptoms of meningitis or meningoencephalitis submitted to the laboratory for cytobacteriological analysis were included in the study. Conventional analysis has been compared with molecular biology.

Results

The overall agreement rate with FilmArray in our study was 86%. The sensitivity to Escherichia coli K1, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae was 100%. And for Cryptococcus neoformans it was 83% in our study.

Conclusion

In summary, this technique can be used to diagnose bacterial meningitis more sensitively than with conventional techniques, while at the same time allowing a rapid and efficacious patient's treatment.