The panel detected Cryptococcus in
the CSF of patients diagnosedwith a first episode of cryptococcalmeningitis by fungal culture with 100% sensitivity
and specificity and differentiated between fungal relapse and paradoxical immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome
in recurrent episodes. A negative FilmArray result was predictive of CSF sterility on follow-up lumbar punctures
for cryptococcal meningitis. EBV was frequently detected in this immunosuppressed population (n= 45).
Other pathogens detected included: cytomegalovirus (n = 2), varicella zoster virus (n = 2), human herpes virus
6 (n = 1), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n= 1). The FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis panel offers a promising
platform for rapid meningitis diagnosis