ArticlePediatric research2025
Microbial cell-free DNA-sequencing as an addition to conventional diagnostics in neonatal sepsis.
Article in Pediatric research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed.
- [Value of targeted next-generation sequencing in pathogen detection for neonates with respiratory distress syndrome: a prospective randomized controlled trial].Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics · 2025Trial
- Umbilical Cord Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction and Sepsis Complications for Neonates.JAMA network open · 2026Article
- Fetal Hepatosplenomegaly: Stepwise Diagnostic Framework, Diagnostic Approach to Fetal Hepatosplenomegaly.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Multiple cross displacement amplification coupled with a lateral flow biosensor for ultra-rapid and highly sensitive detection ofMicrobiology spectrum · 2026Article
- Multi-omics insights into immunometabolic dysregulation in neonatal sepsis for precision medicine.Molecular biology reports · 2026Review
- Review
- Clinical utility of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in infants with severe infections.Frontiers in microbiology · 2026Article
- Metagenomic next-generation sequencing: new horizons in microbiology.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026Review
- Clinical impact of plasma cell-free DNA metagenomic next-generation sequencing testing in neonatal and infant populations.Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology : ASHE · 2026Article
- Cell-free DNA in sepsis: from molecular insights to clinical management.Military Medical Research · 2025Review
- Next-Generation Sequencing for Bloodstream Infections: Shaping the Future of Rapid Diagnostics and Precision Medicine.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- The Role of microRNAs and Cell-Free DNAs in Fungal Infections: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature.Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- The role of microbial cell free DNA sequencing in sepsis detection in the neonate.Pediatric research · 2025Article
- Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBloodstream infections remain a challenge for neonatologists, as traditional culture-based methods are time-consuming and rely on adequate blood volume. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers an alternative, as it can identify microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) in a small blood sample, providing rapid pathogen detection. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of DISQVER®-NGS compared to blood cultures in neonatal patients with suspected sepsis.
methodsIn neonates with suspected sepsis, blood cultures and samples for NGS were prospectively collected. Patients were divided into four categories: 1) sepsis, blood culture positive, 2) clinical sepsis, culture negative, 3) suspected sepsis, 4) validation cohort.
resultsNGS detected bacterial, viral or fungal mcfDNA in 24 of 82 samples. Blood cultures were collected in 46 of 84 patients (15/46 positive). DISQVER® correctly identified pathogens in 9/15 patients with a positive blood culture, two with intrinsic resistance to their antibiotic regimen. In seven samples NGS reported the mcfDNA of bacteria that could have theoretically grown in culture but did not.
conclusionsNGS may enhance sensitivity in sepsis diagnostics by detecting mcfDNA in neonates with suspected sepsis. Interpreting NGS results requires correlation with clinical data, laboratory values, and routine microbiological tests for a comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition. IMPACT: Conventional blood culture methods have limitations in accuracy and turnaround time. The study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of the Next-Generation Sequencing method DISQVER® compared to traditional blood cultures in neonatal patients with suspected sepsis. Our findings suggest that NGS has the potential to augment the precision of conventional diagnostic techniques, can lead to improved detection of pathogens and targeted treatment approaches in neonatal sepsis. It is emphasized that further validation and integration with clinical and microbiological data are required to ensure optimal clinical utility.
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