ArticleFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology2025
Cost-effectiveness analysis of metagenomic next-generation sequencing versus traditional bacterial cultures for postoperative central nervous system infections in critical care settings: a prospective pilot study.
Article in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Application value and challenges associated with plasma cell-free DNA metagenomic sequencing technology in the diagnosis of infections in patients with hematological disorders.Blood science (Baltimore, Md.) · 2026Review
- Clinical utility of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in precision diagnosis of infectious diseases: a retrospective study based on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid.European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology · 2026Article
- Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing for Brain Abscess: Improved Pathogen Detection, Targeted Antimicrobial Therapy, and Association with Fewer Surgical Interventions.Infection and drug resistance · 2026Article
- From microscopy to antimicrobial decisions: a clinically grounded roadmap for critical care infectious diseases.Frontiers in artificial intelligence · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Early and accurate pathogen identification is crucial for managing central nervous system infections (CNSIs). While Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS) offers rapid and sensitive pathogen detection, its cost-effectiveness in postoperative neurosurgical patients in critical care settings remains underexplored. Our study aims to investigate the clinical health economic value of mNGS in detecting pathogens of CNSIs after neurosurgery. Methods: In this prospective pilot study, 60 patients with CNSIs at Beijing Tiantan Hospital ICU (March 2023-January 2024) were randomized 1:1 to mNGS or conventional pathogen culture groups. A decision-tree model compared cost-effectiveness using incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). A decision-tree model was used to compare the cost-effectiveness between mNGS and traditional pathogen culture methods using incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Results: From March 2023 to January 2024, 60 patients were included. mNGS demonstrated superior diagnostic efficiency with shorter turnaround time (1 vs 5 days; _P_<0.001) and lower anti-infective costs (¥18,000 vs ¥23,000; _P_=0.02). Despite higher detection costs (¥4,000 vs ¥2,000; _P_<0.001), the ICER of ¥36,700 per additional timely diagnosis suggested cost-effectiveness at China's GDP-based WTP threshold. No significant differences in hospitalization duration or total costs were observed (_P_>0.05). Conclusion: mNGS improves diagnostic efficiency and reduces antimicrobial expenditure for postoperative CNSIs in critical care, demonstrating favorable cost-effectiveness when considering clinical outcome gains.
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