Quality control processes for precise and accurate microbial next-generation sequencing (NGS)

Rapid, reliable, and accurate identification of an infective organisms has a profound impact on treatment management and clinical outcomes. In recent years next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been in the spotlight for its ability to detect possible infective organisms faster and with more sensitivity than routine microbiological cultures. NGS is even more effective in the presence of certain organisms such as fastidious, intracellular, and nutritionally challenging bacteria and fungi. In particular, NGS has played a significant role in the identification of infective organisms in patients with deep-seated infections such as periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), endocarditis, and osteomyelitis. The NGS diagnostic process is subjected to rigorous multistep quality controls to guarantee that external contaminants are excluded, closely related species are differentiated, and organisms present in the clinical sample are accurately identified.

 

Learning Objectives