Clinical application value of metagenome next-generation sequencing in pulmonary diffuse exudative lesions: a retrospective study

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the clinical application value of Metagenome Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS) for pulmonary diffuse exudative lesions.MethodsFrom January 1, 2014, to November 31, 2021, 136 cases with chest radiologic presentations of pulmonary diffuse exudative lesions admitted to Fujian Provincial Hospital were included in the study; of those, 77 patients underwent mNGS pathogen detection. Based on the pathogen detection outcomes and clinical diagnoses, patients were categorized into an infection group (IG) and a non-infection group (NIG). A comparison was made between the diagnostic efficacy of the mNGS technique and traditional culture methods. Meanwhile, 59 patients clinically identified as having infectious pulmonary diffuse exudative lesions but who did not receive mNGS testing were designated as the non-NGS infection group (non-IG). A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients in both the IG and non-IG, with a 30-day all-cause mortality endpoint used for follow-up.OutcomesWhen compared to conventional culture methods, mNGS demonstrated an approximate 35% increase in sensitivity (80.0% vs 45.5%, P