Clinical application of targeted next-generation sequencing in severe pneumonia: a retrospective review.

BACKGROUND: The precise identification of the underlying causes of infectious diseases, such as severe pneumonia, is essential, and the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enhanced the effectiveness of pathogen detection. However, there is limited information on the systematic assessment of the clinical use of targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) in cases of severe pneumonia. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 130 patients with severe pneumonia treated in the ICU from June 2022 to June 2023. The consistency of the results of tNGS, metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS), and culture with the clinical diagnosis was evaluated. Additionally, the results for pathogens detected by tNGS were compared with those of culture, mNGS, and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). To evaluate the efficacy of monitoring severe pneumonia, five patients with complicated infections were selected for tNGS microbiological surveillance. The tNGS and culture drug sensitisation results were then compared. RESULTS: The tNGS results for the analysis of the 130 patients showed a concordance rate of over 70% with clinical diagnostic results. The detection of pathogenic microorganisms using tNGS was in agreement with the results of culture, mNGS, and RT-qPCR. Furthermore, the tNGS results for pathogens in the five patients monitored for complicated infections of severe pneumonia were consistent with the culture and imaging test results during treatment. The tNGS drug resistance results were in line with the drug sensitivity results in approximately 65% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: The application of tNGS highlights its promise and significance in assessing the effectiveness of clinical interventions and providing guidance for anti-infection therapies for severe pneumonia.

Pulmonary Microbial Composition in Sepsis-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an unresolved challenge in the field of respiratory and critical care, and the changes in the lung microbiome during the development of ARDS and their clinical diagnostic value remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of the lung microbiome in disease progression in patients with sepsis-induced ARDS and potential therapeutic targets. Methods: Patients with ARDS were divided into two groups according to the initial site of infection, intrapulmonary infection (ARDSp, 111 cases) and extrapulmonary infection (ARDSexp, 45 cases), and a total of 28 patients with mild pulmonary infections were enrolled as the control group. In this study, we sequenced the DNA in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collected from patients using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to analyze the changes in the lung microbiome in patients with different infectious site and prognosis and before and after antibiotic treatment. Results: The Shannon-Wiener index indicated a statistically significant reduction in microbial diversity in the ARDSp group compared with the ARDSexp and control groups. The ARDSp group was characterized by a reduction in microbiome diversity, mainly in the normal microbes of the lung, whereas the ARDSexp group was characterized by an increase in microbiome diversity, mainly in conditionally pathogenic bacteria and intestinal microbes. Further analysis showed that an increase in Bilophila is a potential risk factor for death in ARDSexp. An increase in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, enteric microbes, or conditional pathogens may be risk factors for death in ARDSp. In contrast, Hydrobacter may be a protective factor in ARDSp. Conclusion: Different initial sites of infection and prognoses are likely to affect the composition and diversity of the pulmonary microbiome in patients with septic ARDS. This study provides insights into disease development and exploration of potential therapeutic targets.

[Changes of lung microbiome of acute respiratory distress syndrome before and after treatment under open airway].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the differences and similarities of pre-treatment and post-treatment lung microbiome of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and find out the change rules of the lung microbiome in the progression of ARDS according to different prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted. Patients with ARDS caused by severe pneumonia admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of Jiangmen Central Hospital from February 2019 to January 2020 were enrolled as the study subjects. The patients were divided into pre-treatment (ARDS-preT) group (24 cases), post-treatment survival (ARDS-poT-Survival) group (17 cases), and post-treatment death (ARDS-poT-Dead) group (7 cases). ICU patients with mild pulmonary infection and non-ARDS admitted to ICU during the same period were enrolled as control group (25 cases). The similarities and differences of lung microbiome in four groups were analyzed and compared, and the possible pathogenic bacteria (potential risk factors for death) and probiotics (potential survival and protective factors) related to death caused by ARDS were screened. RESULTS: In terms of pathogenic microorganisms, the positive rates of Escherichia coli and Candida albicans in the ARDS-poT-Dead group were significantly higher than those in the ARDS-poT-Survival group [57.1% (4/7) vs. 5.9% (1/17) and 57.1% (4/7) vs. 0% (0/7), both P < 0.05]. In the screening of background bacteria, the decrease of bacteria in the ARDS-preT group compared with the ARDS-poT-Survival group, the ARDS-poT-Dead group compared with the ARDS-poT-Survival group, the ARDS-poT-Dead group compared with the control group, the reduced bacteria might be pulmonary probiotics (potential protective factor for ARDS). The screening result was Hydrobacter [ARDS-preT group vs. ARDS-poT-Survival group: 62.5% (15/24) vs. 94.1% (16/17); ARDS-poT-Dead group vs. ARDS-poT-Survival group: 14.3% (1/7) vs. 94.1% (16/17); ARDS-poT-Dead vs. control: 14.3% (1/7) vs. 96.0% (24/25), all P < 0.05]. In the screening of background bacteria, the increase of bacteria in the ARDS-poT-Dead group compared with the ARDS-preT group, the ARDS-poT-Dead group compared with the ARDS-poT-Survival group, the ARDS-poT-Dead group compared with the control group, and the increased bacteria might be potential pulmonary pathogen (potential risk factor for death of ARDS), which belonged to Enterobacteria: Edwardsiella, Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Kluyvera, Lelliottia, Pantoea, Raoultella. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed the increase of Escherichia coli or Candida albicans in pulmonary pathogenic microorganisms, or the increase of Enterobacteria in background bacteria may be the risk factors for the death of ARDS. Additionally, background bacteria Hydrobacter probably is a protective factor for the survival of ARDS. Whether it can be used as a novel treatment for ARDS is worth further investigation.

Resilience of nurses in isolation wards during the COVID⁃19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

Impact of supportive interventions on resilience and self-assessed psychopathology symptoms of 92 nurses in isolation ward during the COVID-19 pandemic was evaluated. Resilience and psychopathological symptoms of nurses in the isolation ward was assessed by Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90). A total resilience score was 87.04 ± 22.78. The SCL-90 score was 160- to 281 (202.5 ± 40.79). Only 8.70% of the nurses (n = 8) had a total SCL-90 score >160, suggesting positive symptoms. The majority of nurses had 0 to 90 positive self-assessment items (median 14); 19.57% (n = 18) had > 43 positive items. Interpersonal sensitivity, depression, hostility, and paranoid ideation scores were below national averages (p=0.000, 0.040, 0.002, 0.004, respectively). SCL-90 items reflecting diet and sleep conditions were higher(P = 0.009), and somatization, obsessive-compulsive, anxiety, phobic anxiety, and psychoticism domains and scores were similar to national averages (P>0.3). With exception of somatization and other domains, the mean resilience score was negatively associated with the scores of other SCL-90 domains. High resilience promotes physical and mental health, and may be improved by training, psychological interventions and full use of hospital resources.

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by severe pneumonia: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Metagenome next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a valuable diagnostic tool that can be used for the identification of early pathogens of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in severe pneumonia. Little is known about the use of this technology in clinical application and the evaluation of the prognostic value of ARDS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with ARDS caused by severe pneumonia. Samples were collected from patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Jiangmen Central Hospital from January 2018 to August 2019. The no-next generation sequencing (NGS) group was composed of patients given conventional microbiological tests to examine sputum, blood, or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The NGS group was composed of patients tested using mNGS and conventional microbiological tests. We evaluated the etiological diagnostic effect and clinical prognostic value of mNGS in patients with ARDS caused by severe pneumonia. RESULTS: The overall positive rate (91.1%) detected by the mNGS method was significantly higher than that of the culture method (62.2%, P = 0.001), and antibody plus polymerase chain reaction (28.9%, P < 0.001). Following adjustment of the treatment plan based on microbial testing results, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II (APACHE II) score of the NGS group was lower than that of the no-NGS group 7 days after treatment (P < 0.05). The 28-day mortality rate of the NGS group was significantly lower than that of the no-NGS group (P < 0.05). Longer ICU stay, higher APACHE II score and sequential organ failure assessment score were risk factors for the death of ARDS, and adjusting the medication regimen based on mNGS results was a protective factor. The detection of mNGS can significantly shorten the ICU stay of immunosuppressed patients (P < 0.01), shorten the ventilation time (P < 0.01), and reduce the ICU hospitalization cost (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Metagenome next-generation sequencing is a valuable tool to determine the etiological value of ARDS caused by severe pneumonia to improve diagnostic accuracy and prognosis for this disease. For immunosuppressed patients, mNGS technology can be used in the early stage to provide more diagnostic evidence and guide medications.

[Repairing the defects in the chest, back and axilla with a split-breast flap].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a method to repair the defects after the secondary tumor excision and radiation ulcer in the chest, back and axilla. METHODS: Eight patients, with the defects after the secondary tumor excision and the radiation ulcer in the chest, back and axilla, were undergoing the treatment. A "T" shape incision or up-side-down "T" shape incision was designed above the breast or along the inframammary fold below breast, just close to the defect. A split-breast flap was raised above the pectoralis major or deep fascia. The defect was then repaired with a rotating and advancing way. RESULTS: Eight patients were repaired in one stage. Blood circulation of the flaps was abundant except one with distal edge necrosis. The ptosis breast was corrected and the fullness of the chest wall was also achieved. But, the Nipple of the opposite health breast was lost the original position to the lateral or medial. CONCLUSIONS: The above-mentioned technique may be an efficient method to repair the defects after the secondary tumor excision and radiation ulcer in the chest, back and axilla. It is adapt to the old patients whose health is worse, but it is not good for the young patients resulted from the injury breast.