Targeted next-generation sequencing enhances precision and rapid detection in healthcare-associated infection Surveillance: Unveiling multidrug-resistant colonization in ICUs

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the potential advantages of targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) over conventional bacterial culture methods for pathogen detection in hospital-associated infections (HAIs). Methods: All EICU medical staff and all medical staff from the Physical Examinat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tangchun Liu, Shuyan Deng, Wandi Liu, Jinzhao Zhang, Pengfei Wang, Zhengfei Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:New Microbes and New Infections
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297525000277
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849336629430321152
author Tangchun Liu
Shuyan Deng
Wandi Liu
Jinzhao Zhang
Pengfei Wang
Zhengfei Yang
author_facet Tangchun Liu
Shuyan Deng
Wandi Liu
Jinzhao Zhang
Pengfei Wang
Zhengfei Yang
author_sort Tangchun Liu
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the potential advantages of targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) over conventional bacterial culture methods for pathogen detection in hospital-associated infections (HAIs). Methods: All EICU medical staff and all medical staff from the Physical Examination Centre completed a questionnaire. Nasopharyngeal specimens were collected from medical staff who met all of the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria. EICU medical staff provided 2 samples each, while Physical Examination Centre staff provided 1 sample each. For EICU medical staff, one of their two nasopharyngeal swabs was subjected to tNGS testing, and the other to bacterial culture testing. For the PEC staff, their nasopharyngeal swabs were subjected to tNGS testing. Additionally, six pairs of spectacles and six keyboards used by EICU medical staff were randomly selected, and the surfaces were swabbed with sterile swabs for tNGS testing. Results: In 23 nasal swab samples from EICU group, tNGS detected 14 species of microorganism in 29 instances within 19 h. Bacterial culture detected 2 species of microorganism in 4 instances, 2 positive samples within 19 h and confirmed another 2 positive samples within 69 h. A total of 42 samples with 14 different microorganism species were collected from the nasopharyngeal swabs of 23 EICU members and 15 PEC members. Among them, 29 cases (69 %) of 14 different microorganisms were detected in EICU staff, with an average of 1.3 microorganism species detected per person, while 13 cases (28 %) of 6 different microorganisms were detected in PEC staff, with an average of 0.9 microorganism species detected per person. The most common colonizing bacteria included Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella spp. Compared to bacterial culture, tNGS offers advantages in monitoring HAIs, including a broad range of detectable microorganisms, high sensitivity of results, and shorter reporting time for positive results. Bacteria colonizing the EICU carry more antibiotic resistance genes. Conclusions: tNGS outperforms conventional culture in healthcare-associated infection surveillance, with higher sensitivity and accelerated pathogen identification. Simultaneously, tNGS revealed extensive colonization of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens (e.g., Acinetobacter baumannii, MRSA) in EICU environments, highlighting its utility in monitoring complex antimicrobial resistance patterns.
format Article
id doaj-art-2ef3abf858714c04b14ab79b1b7fc635
institution Kabale University
issn 2052-2975
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series New Microbes and New Infections
spelling doaj-art-2ef3abf858714c04b14ab79b1b7fc6352025-08-20T03:44:55ZengElsevierNew Microbes and New Infections2052-29752025-06-016510158910.1016/j.nmni.2025.101589Targeted next-generation sequencing enhances precision and rapid detection in healthcare-associated infection Surveillance: Unveiling multidrug-resistant colonization in ICUsTangchun Liu0Shuyan Deng1Wandi Liu2Jinzhao Zhang3Pengfei Wang4Zhengfei Yang5Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaSun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaSun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaSun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaSun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaCorresponding author. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 107 Yan Jiang Xi Road, Guangzhou, 510120, China.; Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaObjectives: This study aims to evaluate the potential advantages of targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) over conventional bacterial culture methods for pathogen detection in hospital-associated infections (HAIs). Methods: All EICU medical staff and all medical staff from the Physical Examination Centre completed a questionnaire. Nasopharyngeal specimens were collected from medical staff who met all of the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria. EICU medical staff provided 2 samples each, while Physical Examination Centre staff provided 1 sample each. For EICU medical staff, one of their two nasopharyngeal swabs was subjected to tNGS testing, and the other to bacterial culture testing. For the PEC staff, their nasopharyngeal swabs were subjected to tNGS testing. Additionally, six pairs of spectacles and six keyboards used by EICU medical staff were randomly selected, and the surfaces were swabbed with sterile swabs for tNGS testing. Results: In 23 nasal swab samples from EICU group, tNGS detected 14 species of microorganism in 29 instances within 19 h. Bacterial culture detected 2 species of microorganism in 4 instances, 2 positive samples within 19 h and confirmed another 2 positive samples within 69 h. A total of 42 samples with 14 different microorganism species were collected from the nasopharyngeal swabs of 23 EICU members and 15 PEC members. Among them, 29 cases (69 %) of 14 different microorganisms were detected in EICU staff, with an average of 1.3 microorganism species detected per person, while 13 cases (28 %) of 6 different microorganisms were detected in PEC staff, with an average of 0.9 microorganism species detected per person. The most common colonizing bacteria included Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella spp. Compared to bacterial culture, tNGS offers advantages in monitoring HAIs, including a broad range of detectable microorganisms, high sensitivity of results, and shorter reporting time for positive results. Bacteria colonizing the EICU carry more antibiotic resistance genes. Conclusions: tNGS outperforms conventional culture in healthcare-associated infection surveillance, with higher sensitivity and accelerated pathogen identification. Simultaneously, tNGS revealed extensive colonization of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens (e.g., Acinetobacter baumannii, MRSA) in EICU environments, highlighting its utility in monitoring complex antimicrobial resistance patterns.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297525000277tNGSMicroorganismsHealthcare-associated infections
spellingShingle Tangchun Liu
Shuyan Deng
Wandi Liu
Jinzhao Zhang
Pengfei Wang
Zhengfei Yang
Targeted next-generation sequencing enhances precision and rapid detection in healthcare-associated infection Surveillance: Unveiling multidrug-resistant colonization in ICUs
New Microbes and New Infections
tNGS
Microorganisms
Healthcare-associated infections
title Targeted next-generation sequencing enhances precision and rapid detection in healthcare-associated infection Surveillance: Unveiling multidrug-resistant colonization in ICUs
title_full Targeted next-generation sequencing enhances precision and rapid detection in healthcare-associated infection Surveillance: Unveiling multidrug-resistant colonization in ICUs
title_fullStr Targeted next-generation sequencing enhances precision and rapid detection in healthcare-associated infection Surveillance: Unveiling multidrug-resistant colonization in ICUs
title_full_unstemmed Targeted next-generation sequencing enhances precision and rapid detection in healthcare-associated infection Surveillance: Unveiling multidrug-resistant colonization in ICUs
title_short Targeted next-generation sequencing enhances precision and rapid detection in healthcare-associated infection Surveillance: Unveiling multidrug-resistant colonization in ICUs
title_sort targeted next generation sequencing enhances precision and rapid detection in healthcare associated infection surveillance unveiling multidrug resistant colonization in icus
topic tNGS
Microorganisms
Healthcare-associated infections
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297525000277
work_keys_str_mv AT tangchunliu targetednextgenerationsequencingenhancesprecisionandrapiddetectioninhealthcareassociatedinfectionsurveillanceunveilingmultidrugresistantcolonizationinicus
AT shuyandeng targetednextgenerationsequencingenhancesprecisionandrapiddetectioninhealthcareassociatedinfectionsurveillanceunveilingmultidrugresistantcolonizationinicus
AT wandiliu targetednextgenerationsequencingenhancesprecisionandrapiddetectioninhealthcareassociatedinfectionsurveillanceunveilingmultidrugresistantcolonizationinicus
AT jinzhaozhang targetednextgenerationsequencingenhancesprecisionandrapiddetectioninhealthcareassociatedinfectionsurveillanceunveilingmultidrugresistantcolonizationinicus
AT pengfeiwang targetednextgenerationsequencingenhancesprecisionandrapiddetectioninhealthcareassociatedinfectionsurveillanceunveilingmultidrugresistantcolonizationinicus
AT zhengfeiyang targetednextgenerationsequencingenhancesprecisionandrapiddetectioninhealthcareassociatedinfectionsurveillanceunveilingmultidrugresistantcolonizationinicus