jneuroJournal of Neurology and NeuropsychiatrycoVolume 2 Issue 2 (July-Dec)MultidisciplinaryEnglish6 Months NNY20251230NeuropsychiatryDiagnostic Accuracy of Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) Panel for Central Nervous System Infections: An Updated Meta-AnalysisEnglishY2438Ralph LouieBautistaEnglishNCentral nervous system infections (CNSI) are severe, life-threatening conditions that require rapid and accurate diagnosis for effective management. To address diagnostic challenges in CNSI, molecular diagnostic tools have been developed to improve the detection and identification of CNS pathogens.Objectives: This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the BioFire® FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) Panel in detecting CNS pathogens and compare its performance with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and single-target polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Methods: A systematic literature search identified studies published between 2016 and 2024. Data were analyzed and evaluated the Cochrane RevMan Web.Results: Twenty-three studies were included with a total of 11,182 patients. The ME Panel exhibited high accuracy for viral pathogens, with an average sensitivity of 97% and specificity of 99.8%, particularly for Enterovirus, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), and Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV). Bacterial detection showed greater variability, with a pooled sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 99.6%, highlighting challenges in detecting S. pneumoniae and L. monocytogenes. Sensitivity for Cryptococcus was lower at 70%, although specificity remained high at 99%.Conclusion: The ME Panel provides rapid and accurate detection of CNSI, facilitating timely treatment decisions. 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