Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40138143›Full record

ArticleCurrent medical science2025

Pathogen Detection in Spinal Infections: Next-Generation Sequencing Versus Conventional Microbiological Methods.

Khan Akhtar Ali, Ling-Xiao He, Fang Gao, Ze-An Xia, Hui Huang, Heng Zeng, Wei-Hua Hu

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Current medical science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Khan Akhtar Ali *Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Ling-Xiao He *Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Fang GaoDepartment of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Ze-An XiaDepartment of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Hui HuangDepartment of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
Heng ZengDepartment of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. zengheng@hotmail.com.
Wei-Hua HuDepartment of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China. whhu@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4813-0069

Funding

Educational Research Program of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (2022135)Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (2023AFB646)Innovation Program of Wuhan Basic Research (No. 2023020201010155)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

OBJECTIVE AND

backgroundEarly and accurate diagnosis of spinal infections, including spinal tuberculosis, is pivotal for effective treatment but remains challenging. This study aims to assess the diagnostic yield of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) compared with that of conventional microbiological tests (CMTs) in identifying pathogens associated with spinal pathologies, with a special focus on infections leading to surgical interventions.

methodsWe enrolled 85 patients who underwent spinal surgery, comprising 63 patients with clinically diagnosed spinal infections, including patients with spinal tuberculosis, and 22 patients with noninfectious spinal conditions. The procedures involved irrigation and debridement for persistent wound drainage, with subsequent DNA extraction from plasma and joint fluid for mNGS and CMT analysis.

resultsSignificantly increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were observed in patients with infections. The mNGS approach showed greater diagnostic sensitivity (92.06%) for detecting pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, than did CMTs (36.51%). Despite its low specificity, mNGS had considerable negative predictive value (70.59%), underscoring its utility in ruling out infections.

conclusionsThe mNGS offers superior sensitivity over CMTs in the diagnosis of a variety of spinal infections, notably spinal tuberculosis. This study highlights the potential of mNGS in enhancing the diagnosis of complex spinal infections, thereby informing targeted treatment strategies.

Indexed as

High-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingTuberculosis, SpinalAdultAgedC-Reactive ProteinFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMycobacterium tuberculosisSensitivity and SpecificityC-Reactive ProteinConventional microbiological testsD-dimersMetagenomic next-generation sequencingPredictive valueSensitivitySpecificitySpinal infections

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.