Analysis of the Clinical Value of Metagenomic Next-generation Sequencing in Central Nervous System Infection

  Objective  To evaluate the clinical value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology in the central nervous system (CNS) infection.

  Methods  Utilizing the Infectious Disease Metagenomic Testing Platform at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, we conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data, routine laboratory test results, and mNGS results of patients diagnosed with infectious CNS diseases from April to December 2022. The aim was to assess the diagnostic significance of mNGS technology in CNS infection.

  Results  Among 39 patients clinically with CNS infection, suspected pathogenic microorganism-specific sequences were detected in 29 cases (74.4%). Among them, 11 cases (37.9%) were positive for bacteria, 13 cases (44.8%) for viruses, 3 cases (10.3%) for fungi, 1 case (3.5%) for both bacteria and viruses, and 1 case (3.5%) for both fungi and viruses, yielding a positivity rate of 74.4%. Ten cases reported negative results, resulting in a false-negative rate of 25.6%. The positivity rate of mNGS was significantly higher than that of conventional clinical pathogen detection methods (including cerebrospinal fluid smears, cultures, pathogen antigens, and nucleic acid polymerase chain reactions), with rates of 74.4% compared to 23.7%, respectively.

  Conclusions  Compared to available conventional clinical pathogen detection methods, mNGS technology demonstrates a higher positivity rate in the diagnosis of infectious CNS diseases. This advancement could potentially contribute to the early diagnosis of CNS infection.