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Same-day metagenomic test helps doctors detect hidden infections in critically ill children
Overview
A pioneering same-day metagenomic testing method has been used at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to detect hidden, drug-resistant bacterial, viral, and fungal infections in critically ill children. The diagnostic technique sequences all genetic material in a sample, helping clinicians identify pathogens that standard tests miss and guiding precise antibiotic prescriptions. A study published in the Lancet Microbe evaluated the method on 122 children, showing it influenced prescribing decisions in a quarter of cases and detected 50 organisms missed by routine diagnostics. The technology is now being rolled out to around 30 intensive care units across the UK.
Key points
- Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) used same-day metagenomic testing on respiratory samples from over 100 critically ill children.
- Metagenomic testing sequences all genetic material in a sample, allowing it to identify bacteria, viruses, and fungi without needing to target specific pathogens in advance.
- The technology helped save the life of 10-year-old Willow Crowther by identifying a drug-resistant bacterial infection after traditional methods failed.
- A study published in the Lancet Microbe found that the test influenced prescribing decisions in a quarter of cases.
- The testing service is currently being rolled out to roughly 30 adult and paediatric intensive care units across the UK.