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Mar 26, 2025;

Pathogen Detection in Spinal Infections: Next-Generation Sequencing Versus Conventional Microbiological Methods.

Khan Akhtar Ali, Ling-Xiao He, Fang Gao, Ze-An Xia, Hui Huang, Heng Zeng, Wei-Hua Hu
Author Information
  1. Khan Akhtar Ali: Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
  2. Ling-Xiao He: Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
  3. Fang Gao: Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
  4. Ze-An Xia: Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
  5. Hui Huang: Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
  6. Heng Zeng: Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. zengheng@hotmail.com.
  7. Wei-Hua Hu: Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. whhu@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn. ORCID
PMID: 40138143 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-025-00040-4

Abstract

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: Early and accurate diagnosis of spinal infections, including spinal tuberculosis, is pivotal for effective treatment but remains challenging. This study aims to assess the diagnostic yield of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) compared with that of conventional microbiological tests (CMTs) in identifying pathogens associated with spinal pathologies, with a special focus on infections leading to surgical interventions.
METHODS: We enrolled 85 patients who underwent spinal surgery, comprising 63 patients with clinically diagnosed spinal infections, including patients with spinal tuberculosis, and 22 patients with noninfectious spinal conditions. The procedures involved irrigation and debridement for persistent wound drainage, with subsequent DNA extraction from plasma and joint fluid for mNGS and CMT analysis.
RESULTS: Significantly increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were observed in patients with infections. The mNGS approach showed greater diagnostic sensitivity (92.06%) for detecting pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, than did CMTs (36.51%). Despite its low specificity, mNGS had considerable negative predictive value (70.59%), underscoring its utility in ruling out infections.
CONCLUSIONS: The mNGS offers superior sensitivity over CMTs in the diagnosis of a variety of spinal infections, notably spinal tuberculosis. This study highlights the potential of mNGS in enhancing the diagnosis of complex spinal infections, thereby informing targeted treatment strategies.

Keywords

Conventional microbiological tests D-dimers Metagenomic next-generation sequencing Predictive value Sensitivity Specificity Spinal infections

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Grants

  1. (2023AFB646)/Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China
  2. (No. 2023020201010155)/Innovation Program of Wuhan Basic Research
  3. (2022135)/Educational Research Program of Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Journal Article

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0spinalinfectionsmNGSpatientstuberculosisdiagnosisincludingCMTstreatmentstudydiagnosticnext-generationsequencingmicrobiologicaltestspathogenssensitivityvalueSpinalConventionalOBJECTIVEANDBACKGROUND:EarlyaccuratepivotaleffectiveremainschallengingaimsassessyieldmetagenomiccomparedconventionalidentifyingassociatedpathologiesspecialfocusleadingsurgicalinterventionsMETHODS:enrolled85underwentsurgerycomprising63clinicallydiagnosed22noninfectiousconditionsproceduresinvolvedirrigationdebridementpersistentwounddrainagesubsequentDNAextractionplasmajointfluidCMTanalysisRESULTS:SignificantlyincreasedC-reactiveproteinCRPlevelsobservedapproachshowedgreater9206%detectingMycobacterium3651%Despitelowspecificityconsiderablenegativepredictive7059%underscoringutilityrulingCONCLUSIONS:offerssuperiorvarietynotablyhighlightspotentialenhancingcomplextherebyinformingtargetedstrategiesPathogenDetectionInfections:Next-GenerationSequencingVersusMicrobiologicalMethodsD-dimersMetagenomicPredictiveSensitivitySpecificity

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