Contribution of the FilmArray® in the diagnosis of a purpura fulminans due to Neisseria meningitidis

Abstract

Early diagnosis and therapeutic management of infectious meningitis and encephalitis M/E are essential to reduce their morbidity and mortality. Conventionally, the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is based on the cyto-bacteriological examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its culture in order to isolate the possible bacterial strain and to study its sensitivity to antibiotics. These conventional methods often require several days before rendering a final result to the clinician. Possibly the search for soluble antigens and molecular techniques can be carried out. These methods may lack sensitivity or specificity. The FilmArray^®, Meningitis-Encephalitis Panel is a multiplexed in vitro diagnostic test for the simultaneous and rapid detection (1 hour) of 14 pathogens (7 viruses, 6 bacteria and 1 yeast) directly from CSF samples. We report here a presentation of meningococcal purpura fulminans in a 4-year old child. diagnosed, in the early stages, with FilmArray^®.