The real-life performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in sepsis

A recent paper by Peng and colleges highlights the potential of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as a front-line diagnostic for pneumonia.1 Following various severe infections (including pneumonia), a life-threatening condition of sepsis may occur and affects a large proportion of the critically ill population. Culture-based diagnostic procedure still serves as the standard way to determine causative microorganism of sepsis,2 although it is time-consuming and the overall positivity is low.