mNGS(metagenomics Next Generation Sequencing), as a novel culture-independent approach, demonstrated the capability of rapid, sensitive, and accurate pathogen identification. At present, there have been many case reports about the use of mNGS to assist in the diagnosis of bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections and to guide clinicians to determine appropriate treatment. However, the clinical understanding of this technique is not comprehensive, and the experience of using it is relatively limited. We reported a 53-year-old man who was admitted to hospital with a high fever and headache. His inflammatory biomarkers were markedly elevated. Based on the clinical presentation, He was initially diagnosed as having an intracranial infection of unknown etiology and received empirical antibiotics and systemic supportive treatment. But these did not relieve his symptoms. Both the blood and CSF specimens were examined using traditional culture, serological testing, and mNGS. Traditional culture and serological testing produced negative results, while the mNGS revealed the presence of a potential pathogen, mucor, in the CSF specimen. Then targeted antifungal treatment was selected quickly and his temperature gradually returned to normal. Thus, we report the case in which mNGS was an auxiliary method to diagnose mucormycosis, and discuss this case in combination with relevant literature, in order to improve the clinical cognition of this technology.
Mucormycosis is an infection caused by a group of filamentous molds with in the order Mucorales. In developing countries, most cases of mucormycosis occur in persons with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus or subjects with normal post-traumatic immune function. Mucormycosis exhibits a marked propensity for invading blood vessels. The mortality rate of invasive mucormycosis is very high (>30–50%), and 90% of mortality is related to disseminated diseases. We report a 62-year-old man with underlying diseases, such as diabetes and psoriatic arthritis, with a history of trauma before admission. Chest CT showed multiple cavities. Based on the suspected clinical manifestation of mucormycosis infection, the patient received a microbiological culture of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and metagenomics next generation sequencing (mNGS) was performed. The results suggested Klebsiella pneumoniae infection. However, Rhizopus microsporus strains were shown by the mNGS of transpulmonary puncture tissue. Therefore, we report a case in which rare pathogens are identified by mNGS.
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