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REVIEW article

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.
Sec. Bacteria and Host
Volume 14 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1473068

The role of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in diagnosing and managing post-kidney transplantation infections

Provisionally accepted
Hao Wu Hao Wu Hongliang Cao Hongliang Cao Xin Gao Xin Gao Chengdong Shi Chengdong Shi Lei Wang Lei Wang Baoshan Gao Baoshan Gao *
  • First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Kidney transplantation (KT) is a life-saving treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease, but post-transplant infections remain one of the most significant challenges. These infections, caused by a variety of pathogens, can lead to prolonged hospitalization, graft dysfunction, and even mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients.Traditional diagnostic methods often fail to identify the causative organisms in a timely manner, leading to delays in treatment and poorer patient outcomes. This review explores the application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in the diagnosis of post-KT infections. mNGS allows for the rapid, comprehensive detection of a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, without the need for culturebased techniques. We discuss the advantages of mNGS in early and accurate pathogen identification, its role in improving patient management, and the potential challenges in its clinical implementation. Additionally, we consider the future prospects of mNGS in overcoming current diagnostic limitations and its potential for guiding targeted therapies, particularly in detecting antimicrobial resistance and emerging pathogens. This review emphasizes the promise of mNGS as an essential tool in improving the diagnosis and treatment of infections in KT recipients.

    Keywords: Kidney Transplantation, metagenomic next-generation sequencing, Infection, pathogens, diagnosis

    Received: 30 Jul 2024; Accepted: 16 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wu, Cao, Gao, Shi, Wang and Gao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Baoshan Gao, First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.