ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2022
The potential of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in diagnosis of spinal infection: a retrospective study.
Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
28 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 32 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comparative diagnostic performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing and conventional microbial culture in spinal infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026Pooled it
- The bacterial spectrum of spinal infections based on blood culture, tissue culture, and molecular methods: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2025Pooled it
- Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) versus tissue culture technique (TCT) in diagnosis of spinal infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2025Pooled it
- What Is the Accuracy of 16S PCR Followed by Sanger Sequencing or Next-generation Sequencing in Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Clinical orthopaedics and related research · 2025Pooled it
- Hematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis caused by vaginal microbiota: metagenomic resolution of a polymicrobial anaerobic case.Infection · 2026Article
- Clinical utility of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in diagnosing spinal infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Review
- The role of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in spinal infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Review
- From Culture to Sequencing: Evolving Strategies for the Diagnosis of Pediatric Spondylodiscitis.Orthopaedic surgery · 2026Review
- Diagnostic Value of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing for Suspected Native Spinal Brucella Infection: A Multicenter Study.Neurospine · 2026Article
- The diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing versus traditional microbiological testing in native pyogenic spinal infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis.North American Spine Society journal · 2026Review
- Review
- Clinical application value of nanopore-targeted sequencing technology for primary spine infection: a mulicenter, retrospective observational study.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Observational
- Evaluation and Management of Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis: A Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Pathogen Detection in Spinal Infections: Next-Generation Sequencing Versus Conventional Microbiological Methods.Current medical science · 2025Article
- The application of endoscopic debridement combined with metagenomic next-generation sequencing technology in primary spinal infections: a retrospective study.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Article
- Observational
- The application value of targeted next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis of primary osteoarticular infections: A single-center study.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2025Article
- The clinical management and efficacy of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in patients with pyogenic spinal infection: a single-center cohort study.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2024Article
- Diagnostic performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing and conventional microbial culture for spinal infection: a retrospective comparative study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2023Article
- Pathogen detection in suspected spinal infection: metagenomic next-generation sequencing versus culture.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeMetagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a new approach to identify the infecting organism in infectious diseases. Our aim was to evaluate the accuracy of mNGS in determining the etiology of spinal infection.
methodsIn this retrospective study, patients who had a suspected spinal infection and underwent mNGS for diagnosis in our hospital were eligible for inclusion. Samples for mNGS, culture, and histopathological tests were collected surgically or with a CT-guided needle biopsy. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for mNGS and culture test, using histopathological results as reference.
resultsA total of 31 mNGS tests in 30 cases were included. Twenty-six cases were classified as infected, and four cases were considered aseptic. mNGS achieved a specificity of 75.0% [95% confidence interval (CI), 21.9% to 98.7%], sensitivity was 70.3% (95% CI, 49.7% to 85.5%). mNGS was more sensitive than culture at 14.8% (95% CI, 4.9% to 34.6%, P < 0.0001). However, the specificities of mNGS and culture were statistically similar.
conclusionWe described here the power of mNGS in the etiological diagnosing of spinal infection. Our study opens the possibility for more extensive use of mNGS techniques in the identification of pathogens in patients with suspected spinal infection.
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Registered trials
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