CSF PCR Testing for Enterovirus Reduces Length of Stay for Infants

Infants with positive PCR results had 1.5-day shorter length of stay.

Young infants often are hospitalized for fever and are started on antibiotics until all bacterial culture tests are negative. Investigators retrospectively evaluated the effect of regular use of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for enterovirus on hospital length of stay and antibiotic use during the height of several enteroviral seasons (June 1–October 31, 2000–2006) in 442 infants (age, ≤90 days) with suspected aseptic meningitis. Infants ultimately diagnosed with serious bacterial infection or herpes simplex virus infection were excluded.

All infants underwent enterovirus PCR testing within 48 hours of hospitalization, and results were available after a mean of 23 hours. CSF PCR was positive for enterovirus…

Reviewing Author

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

CSF PCR Testing for Enterovirus Reduces Length of Stay for Infants

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Reviewing Author