# Clinical Impact of Early Pathogen Identification in Acute Neurological Infections

> **NIH NIH K23** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2022 · $173,871

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Recent global outbreaks of neurotropic infections highlight our current limitations in predicting the emergence
and spread of pathogens, establishing an etiological diagnosis, and preventing poor outcome. Dr. Thakur's
K23 proposal will assess the clinical impact of early pathogen identification in acute neurologic
infections in adults. Dr. Thakur's goal is to be a clinical researcher with expertise in the distribution, risk
factors, and impact of acute neurological infections, including emerging and re-emerging pathogens. Dr.
Thakur will define epidemiological, socioeconomic, and clinical factors associated with poor outcome in
patients with CNS infections of identified and unknown etiology, which may facilitate diagnostic testing
approaches, as well as monitoring and treatment strategies. Dr. Thakur's goal is to define the impact of
pathogen identification in patients evaluated by traditional diagnostic methods and an advanced diagnostic
platform, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved multiplex PCR assay (FilmArray
Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel (FA ME)). Whether early pathogen identification impacts outcome and whether
advanced testing can and should replace traditional diagnostic methods is not known. This study will be one of
the fist studies to evaluate the clinical implementation of FA ME testing in adults. Dr. Thakur will test her
hypotheses that: 1) Demographic and epidemiologic factors associated with poor outcome will include older
age, low education level, and lack of health insurance, as these factors serve as barriers to access to medical
care. Clinical factors associated with intensive care unit admission (i.e. need for intubation, status epilepticus),
the presence of medical comorbidities and immunocompromised state are associated with poor outcome. 2) In
patients evaluated by traditional laboratory methods, CNS infections of unknown etiology will be associated
with poor outcome compared to those with an identified etiology. Poor outcome in patients with an unknown
etiology will be related to prolonged hospitalizations due to extensive diagnostic testing and empiric treatment;
3) The FA ME panel will significantly reduce time to results and will decrease the duration of inappropriate
antimicrobial medications compared to traditional diagnostic methods. Use of FA ME will be cost-effective,
associated with decreased hospital length of stay, though will not impact outcome at hospital discharge. This
K23 award will provide Dr. Thakur the support needed to develop expertise in 3 major scientific areas: (1)
Design and analysis of epidemiologic studies in neuroinfectious diseases; (2) Expertise in comparative
effectiveness and outcomes research methodology; (3) Clinical application of advanced diagnostic assays for
CNS infections. Dr. Thakur will utilize her clinical-research training in the K23 to lead a population-based
multicenter study in New York City to define the burden and impact of CNS infections. The ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10462794
- **Project number:** 5K23NS105935-05
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Kiran Teresa Thakur
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $173,871
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10462794

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10462794, Clinical Impact of Early Pathogen Identification in Acute Neurological Infections (5K23NS105935-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10462794. Licensed CC0.

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