Application of plasma metagenomic next-generation sequencing improves prognosis in hematology patients with neutropenia or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for infection

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a novel technique for detecting pathogens. This retrospective study evaluated the diagnostic value of mNGS using plasma for infections in hematology patients and its impact on clinical treatment and prognosis in different subgroups of hematology patients. A total of 153 hematology patients with suspected infection who underwent mNGS using plasma were enrolled in the study. Their clinical histories, conventional microbiological test (CMT) results, mNGS results, treatment and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. In 153 plasma samples, mNGS yielded a higher positivity rate than CMT (total: 88.24% vs. 40.52%, P