| | Control group | mPCR group | p valuea |
|---|
| I. Antibiotic therapy |
| Patients with suspicion of Meningitis/ Meningoencephalitis | 42/46 (91.3%) | 42/46 (91.3%) | |
| Infants | 28/29 (96.6%) | 28/29 (96.6%) | |
| ≥ 1 year | 14/17 (82.4%) | 14/17 (82.4%) | |
| LoT (antibiotics) | 4.0 (3.0–5.0) | 3.0 (1.0–5.0) | 0.028 |
| Infants | 4.0 (3.5–5.5) | 3.0 (2.0–5.0) | 0.038 |
| ≥ 1 year | 4.0 (3.0–5.0) | 2.5 (1.0–7.0) | 0.280 |
| DoT (antibiotics) | 6.0 (4.0–10.0) | 4.0 (2.0–8.0) | 0.023 |
| Infants | 8.0 (6.0–11.0) | 6.0 (3.5–10.0) | 0.015 |
| ≥ 1 year | 4.0 (3.0–5.0) | 2.5 (1.0–7.0) | 0.280 |
| II. Acyclovir therapy |
| Patients with suspicion of Meningoencephalitis/ Encephalitis | 33/46 (71.7%) | 33/46 (71.7%) | |
| Infants | 19/29 (65.5%) | 19/29 (65.5%) | |
| ≥ 1 year | 14/17 (82.4%) | 14/17 (82.4%) | |
| LoT (acyclovir) | 3.0 (3.0–4.0) | 1.0 (1.0–2.0) | < 0.001 |
| Infants | 3.0 (3.0–4.0) | 1.0 (1.0–2.0) | < 0.001 |
| ≥ 1 year | 3.0 (3.0–4.0) | 1.0 (1.0–2.0) | < 0.001 |
- The exact Mann-Whitney-U-Test was used to compare distributions of quantitative variables between independent groups. Quantitative data are described by median (M) and interquartile range (IQR). Categorical data are presented as absolute number/ total (percentage) [n/N (%)]
- Abbreviations: multiplex PCR (mPCR), Length of Therapy (LoT), Days of Therapy (DoT)
- aThe p value always refers to the comparison of the number of patients being prescribed either antibiotics or acyclovir in the control and mPCR group
