Clinical Impact of Cerebrospinal Fluid Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Testing in Children with Suspected Central Nervous System Infection

In approximately one-third of cases, unnecessary antiviral or antibiotic treatments were discontinued based on PCR results, demonstrating the utility of molecular diagnostics in guiding clinical management. Especially in patients who had received antibiotics prior to LP, early pathogen detection via PCR may help reduce treatment costs, complications, and length of hospital stay.