Cultures and Next-Generation Sequencing

by Jamison Montesin Patient Caseson Posted on

A 57-year-old male with a recent hospitalization 1 month ago for pneumonia presents with fevers, and hypotension. Should next-generation sequencing (NGS) be ordered alongside blood cultures?

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Best Answer

No

Explanation: Limited patient outcomes data exists with NGS and is not well defined. Cultures are reliable for detection of typical bacterial growth, and NGS should not be routinely used in clinical practice, especially in the initial work-up. Considerations for use could include when difficult-to culture microbes may be present, long term antimicrobial therapy is anticipated, and there remains a high concern for infection despite exhaustion of conventional diagnostics.

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