The Biofire® Filmarray® Pneumonia Plus panel for management of lower respiratory tract infection in mechanically-ventilated patients in the COVID-19 era: a diagnostic and cost-benefit evaluation

• DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2022.115847
• Publication Date: 2022-11-01T21:41:04Z
• Authors: Josep Ferrer; María Ángeles Clari; Estela Giménez; Nieves Carbonell; Ignacio Torres; María Luisa Blasco; Eliseo Albert; David Navarro
• Keywords: Ventilator-associated Pneumonia; Respiratory tract; Isolation

We assessed the diagnostic performance of the Biofire® Filmarray® Pneumonia Plus panel (FA-PP) compared to standard culture in Intensive Care Unit patients with suspected ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infection in the COVID-19 era. We determined whether its implementation in routine diagnostic algorithms would be cost-beneficial from a hospital perspective. Of 163 specimens, 96 (59%) returned negative results with FA-PP and conventional culture, and 29 specimens (17.8%) were positive with both diagnostic methods and yielded concordant qualitative bacterial identification/isolation. Thirty-nine specimens (23.9%) gave discordant results (positive via FA-PP and negative via culture). Real-life adjustments of empirical antimicrobial therapy (EAT) after FA-PP results resulted in additional costs beyond EAT alone of 1868.7 €. Adequate EAT adjustments upon FA-PP results would have resulted in a saving of 6675.8 €. In conclusion, the data presented supports the potential utility of FA-PP for early EAT adjustment in patients with ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infection.