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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 2 of 2 Research Studies DisplayedMiller AC, Koeneman SH, Arakkal AT
Incidence, duration, and risk factors associated with missed opportunities to diagnose herpes simplex encephalitis: a population-based longitudinal study.
This retrospective cohort study determined the frequency and duration of diagnostic delays for herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) that are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Data from the IBM Marketscan Databases from 2001-2017 was used. The authors estimated the number of visits with HSE-related symptoms before diagnosis that would be expected to occur in the absence of delays and compared this estimate to the observed pattern of visits. Then a simulation-based approach was used to compute the number of visits representing a delay. They identified 2667 patients diagnosed with HSE and estimated 45.9% of patients experienced at least 1 missed opportunity, with 21.9% of patients having delays lasting >7 days. Risk factors for delays included being seen only in the emergency department, age 65 or older, or a history of sinusitis or schizophrenia.
AHRQ-funded; HS027375.
Citation: Miller AC, Koeneman SH, Arakkal AT .
Incidence, duration, and risk factors associated with missed opportunities to diagnose herpes simplex encephalitis: a population-based longitudinal study.
Open Forum Infect Dis 2021 Sep;8(9):ofab400. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofab400..
Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Neurological Disorders, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Risk
Fleischer E, Aronson PL
Rapid diagnostic tests for meningitis and encephalitis-BioFire.
This article reports on the BioFire FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel, the first FDA-cleared multiplex polymerase chain reaction for the evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid samples. This newer rapid diagnostic tool has an overall high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of meningitis and encephalitis (ME), with a fast turnaround time and the potential to improve resource utilization for patients presenting with suspicion of ME. However, further research is recommended to determine its optimal use in the evaluation of patients with suspected ME.
AHRQ-funded; HS026006.
Citation: Fleischer E, Aronson PL .
Rapid diagnostic tests for meningitis and encephalitis-BioFire.
Pediatr Emerg Care 2020 Aug;36(8):397-401. doi: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002180..
Keywords: Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Neurological Disorders, Infectious Diseases