TY - JOUR T1 - Evaluation of an Xpert EV (Cepheid®) molecular diagnostic technique for enteroviral meningitis JO - Anales de Pediatría (English Edition) T2 - AU - Alonso Pérez,Natalia AU - Sagastizabal Cardelus,Belén AU - Prieto Tato,Luis Manuel AU - Guillén Martín,Sara AU - González Torralba,Ana AU - García Bermejo,Isabel AU - Ramos Amador,José Tomás SN - 23412879 M3 - 10.1016/j.anpede.2016.09.011 DO - 10.1016/j.anpede.2016.09.011 UR - https://analesdepediatria.org/en-evaluation-an-xpert-ev-cepheid--articulo-S2341287917301448 AB - IntroductionPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays have shown to be useful and quick for the diagnosis of enterovirus in aseptic meningitis. The aim of our study was to analyse the changes in clinical practice after the introduction of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique using the Xpert EV (Cepheid®) assay for the qualitative detection of enterovirus RNA in cerebrospinal fluid specimens from children with suspected viral meningitis. MethodsA retrospective study was performed in children older than 1 year, diagnosed with enterovirus meningitis in a third level hospital from November 2006 to February 2013. The first period, before the availability of Xpert EV (Cepheid®) (Group 1, November 2006–August 2010) was compared with the later period (Group 2, September 2010–February 2013). Clinical characteristics, the mean length of stay, and the cost per inpatient cases, were compared between the 2 periods. ResultsForty-one patients (60.9% male) were included, with a median age of 64 months (interquartile range 28–96). Twenty-six patients (63.4%) were included in Group 2. There were non-statistically significant differences in the epidemiological, disease severity, and laboratory characteristics between both periods of study. A significant difference was observed in the mean length of stay, with it being shorter in Group 2 (48h vs 40.5h, P=.039), and a significant lower inpatient cost per case (€779.77 vs €656.05, P<.05). ConclusionXpert EV (Cepheid®) assay was useful for decreasing the length of hospital stay and the costs associated with hospitalization in children with enterovirus meningitis. ER -