Table 3.
The potential pathogen detection rate of mNGS, culture, conventional methods and combined methods in different types of CNS infections
| Detection rate | No history of empirical treatment (%, 95% CI) | History of empirical treatment (%, 95% CI) | P value between patients treated or not (%, 95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detection rate of CNS infections (n = 159) | |||
| mNGS |
50.00% (20/40) (34.06–65.94) |
34.45% (41/119)a (26.14–43.79) |
0.0802 |
| Culture |
25.00% (10/40) (13.25–41.52) |
7.56% (9/119)a (3.74–14.27) |
0.003 |
| Conventional methods |
40.00% (16/40) (25.28–56.61) |
18.49% (22/119)a (12.19–26.87) |
0.006 |
| Combined methods |
55.00% (22/40) (38.66–70.40) |
39.50% (47/119) (30.78–48.90) |
0.087 |
| Bacterial infections (n = 99) | |||
| mNGS |
57.14% (16/28)b (37.43-74.97) |
38.03% (27/71)c,d (27.00–50.36) |
0.084 |
| Culture |
21.43% (6/28)b (9.03–41.46) |
11.27% (8/71)c (5.34–21.53) |
0.324 |
| Conventional methods |
39.29% (11/28) (22.13–59.27) |
15.49% (11/71)d (8.35–26.46) |
0.010 |
| Combined methods |
60.71% (17/28)b (40.73–77.87) |
42.25% (30/71)c,d (30.81–54.54) |
0.0976 |
| Viral infections (n = 41) | |||
| mNGS |
14.29% (1/7) (0.75–57.99) |
23.53% (8/34) (11.38–41.57) |
> 0.9999 |
| Culture | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Conventional methods |
0.00% (0/7) (0.00–43.91) |
17.65% (6/34) (7.39–35.17) |
0.567 |
| Combined methods |
14.29% (1/7) (0.75–57.99) |
23.53% (8/34) (11.38–41.57) |
0.971 |
| Fungal infections (n = 11) | |||
| mNGS |
83.33% (5/6) (36.48–99.12) |
60.00% (3/5) (17.04–92.74) |
0.545 |
| Culture |
83.33% (5/6) (36.48–99.12) |
20.00% (1/5) (1.05–70.12) |
0.080 |
| Conventional methods |
100.00% (6/6) (51.68–100.00) |
60.00% (3/5) (17.04–92.74) |
0.182 |
| Combined methods |
100.00% (6/6) (51.58–100.00) (46.29-100.00) |
100.00% (5/5) (46.29–100.00) |
> 0.9999 |
| Parasitic infections (n = 3) | |||
| mNGS | N/A | 66.7% (2/3) | N/A |
| Culture | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Conventional methods | N/A | 66.7% (2/3) | N/A |
| Combined methods | N/A | 66.7% (2/3) | N/A |
Conventional methods-negative: Conventional methods (culture, smear, special antibody, biopsy and PCR) were reported negative or not conducted
Combined methods: mNGS and conventional methods
Statistics methods: Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test as listed
N/A not available
aIn all CNS infections without history of empirical treatment before admission, the detection rate of mNGS was significantly higher than that of culture and conventional methods (p value < 0.0083, adjusted for multiple comparisons using Bonferroni (Dunn) method)
bIn bacterial CNS infection patients without history of empirical treatment before admission, the detection rate of mNGS and combined methods were significantly higher than culture (p value < 0.0083, adjusted for multiple comparisons using Bonferroni (Dunn) method)
cIn bacterial CNS infection patients with history of empirical treatment before admission, the detection rate of mNGS and combined methods were significantly higher than culture (p value < 0.0083, adjusted for multiple comparisons using Bonferroni (Dunn) method)
dIn bacterial CNS infection patients with history of empirical treatment before admission, the detection rate of mNGS and combined methods were significantly higher than conventional methods. (p value < 0.0083, adjusted for multiple comparisons using Bonferroni (Dunn) method)