Overview

• Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) achieved an 86% detection rate for lung pathogens, significantly outperforming conventional microbiological tests (67%).
• The study identified 95 distinct pathogens, including 59 bacteria, 18 fungi, 14 viruses, and 4 special pathogens, compared to only 28 detected by traditional methods.
• Clinicians adjusted treatments for 133 patients based on mNGS results, with 40.6% benefiting from more targeted and effective therapies.
• mNGS excels at identifying atypical pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Pneumocystis jirovecii, which are often missed by standard diagnostic techniques.
• The findings, published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, emphasize mNGS's potential to revolutionize clinical diagnostics despite challenges like cost and workflow integration.