Performance of broad-spectrum targeted next-generation sequencing in lower respiratory tract infections in ICU patients: a prospective observational study
Authors' conclusion
This study shows the effectiveness of bstNGS in detecting pathogens of LRTIs, as well as its value as a potential auxiliary diagnostic method in the ICU.
Study context
- Population
- Critically ill ICU patients with lower respiratory tract infectionssamples analysed
- Participants
- 150 patients
- Exposure
- Broad-spectrum targeted Next-Generation Sequencing (bstNGS) vs mNGS vs culture in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)
- Outcome
- Pathogen detection and diagnostic accuracy in BALF
Methodological detailsdiagnostic comparison, August 23, 2023 to April 24, 2024
- Diagnostic comparison
- August 23, 2023 to April 24, 2024
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Pathogen detection and diagnostic accuracy
| Group | Value | Diagnostic accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| bstNGS | 87.33% | 90.67% |
| mNGS | 82.00% | 86.00% |
| Culture | 46.00% | 49.33% |
Value
bstNGS87.33%
mNGS82.00%
Culture46.00%
Diagnostic accuracy
bstNGS90.67%
mNGS86.00%
Culture49.33%
- bstNGS vs mNGS: P < 0.05 — 90.67% vs 86.00%
- bstNGS vs culture: P < 0.0001 — 90.67% vs 49.33%
- bstNGS detected microorganisms discovered by mNGS
- 96.33%
- bstNGS detected microorganisms discovered by culture
- 91.15%
- NGS methods stronger pathogen detection vs culture
- P < 0.05
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Pathogen detected | No pathogen detected | OR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good outcome of antibiotic treatment, pathogen detected vs not detected by bstNGS | 89.68% | 62.50% | 7.53 (1.41–45.30) | P = 0.02 | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
Factors associated with bstNGS detection (multivariate analysis)
- Immunocompromise associated with lower bstNGS detection efficiency
- P = 0.04
- Other clinical features not significantly correlated
Original publication
Performance of broad-spectrum targeted next-generation sequencing in lower respiratory tract infections in ICU patients: a prospective observational study. Crit Care. Published 4 June 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →