M. El-bouz
Pediatric emergency department, Faculty of medicine and pharmacy – University Hassan II of Casablanca-Morocco
Title: Impact of the use of Multiplex PCR in the management of central nervous system infections
Biography
Biography: M. El-bouz
Abstract
Introduction: The diagnostic and therapeuticurgency in front of central nervous system infections makesitnecessary to seek a rapid and precise diagnostic tool.
Materials and methods : This is a retrospective monocentric study conducted between March 2019 and January 2020, carried out at the paediatric emergency department. Weincluded all patients admitted for suspectedmeningitis or meningoencephalitis. Clinical, biological and microbiological data were collected to assess the impact of Multiplex PCR on management.
Results: Seventy-eight patients wereincluded. The medianagewas 34 months [10-84]. Empiricalantibiotictherapywasstarted in all patients and antiviral therapyin 21 patients (27%). In the cerebrospinalfluidstudy, 5 had a positive direct examination and 7 had a positive bacterial culture. The multiplex polymerasechainreaction (PCR) studywasperformedin 48 patients (61.5%), of which 19 (39.5%) were positive (13 bacterial and 6 viral). This allowed the adaptation of treatments, the addition of antiviral for 4 and the cessation of antibiotictherapyin 24 patients (31%) reducingtheirlength of stay in hospital.
Conclusion: Multiplex PCR canbe a diagnostic toolthatallowstreatment to beadapted more rapidlythanwithconventional techniques.