Comparative study of targeted next-generation sequencing and traditional pathogen detection methods in lower respiratory tract infections: impact on patient outcomes
Zhengyuan An·Zuyi Chen·Xu Lu·Haoming Tian·Shengfang Zhang·Zhirong Mao·Shirong Fan·Xu Zhang·Pingping Tao·Zijuan Li·Jun Su·Xiaoping Guo
Background Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are major health problem worldwide. Accurate pathogen identification using conventional microbiological tests (CMTs) is challenging. Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) is a promising diagnostic approach; however, its performance compared with that of CMTs, and its impact on patient outcomes require further investigation. Methods This retrospective study enrolled 562 patients with suspected lower respiratory infections from 29 departme