Assessment of Diagnostic Yield of Nonculture Infection Testing on Cerebrospinal Fluid in Immune-Competent Children

Abstract

Key Points Question What is the value of nonculture cerebrospinal fluid infection testing in immune-competent children with normal cerebrospinal fluid cell counts? Finding In this cross-sectional study of 4811 lumbar puncture specimens from immune-competent children aged 0.5 to 18.9 years, only 2 specimens with positive results from nonculture cerebrospinal fluid infection testing required clinical intervention, among all specimens with normal cell counts. Both children who required clinical intervention had other clinical signs of infection. Meaning Nonculture cerebrospinal fluid infection testing appeared to be common in immune-competent children with normal cerebrospinal fluid cell counts, but positive results seemed rare and unlikely to be independently associated with care.