Evaluation of Cell-free DNA based next-generation sequencing for identifying pathogens in bacteremia patients

Rapid detection of bloodstream pathogens would greatly facilitate clinicians to make the precise antimicrobial treatment in patients with bacteremia. In this study, one hundred fourteen plasma samples were collected from patients with identified or suspected bacteremia, and pathogens were detected by both the conventional bacteria culture and cell-free DNA metagenomics next-generation sequencing (cfDNA mNGS). The present study indicated that 76% (38/50) of positive conventional blood culture (BC+ group) patients were positively detected by cfDNA mNGS, and only 4% were mismatching between cfDNA mNGS and conventional bacteria culture.