Introducing a New Polymerase Chain Reaction Panel-Based Cerebrospinal Fluid Evaluation for Encephalitis and Meningitis: Does It Influence Empiric Treatment Duration, Length of Hospital Stay, and Pathogen-Specific Diagnoses?

We analyzed the impact of a diagnostic meningitis/encephalitis polymerase chain reaction panel. Introducing the test resulted in no significantly shortened empiric antibiotic streptococcal/meningococcal treatment (-1 day [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0-3 days]; P = .16), nor hospitalization (-2 days [95% CI, 0-3 days]; P = .86). Empiric treatment duration against Herpesviridae and Listeria monocytogenes remained unchanged, and pathogen-specific diagnoses were not increased.