Abstract
Background: AIDS-associated Opportunistic Infections (OIs) have significant morbidity and mortality and can be diagnostically challenging, requiring invasive procedures as well as a combination of culture and targeted molecular approaches. Objective: We aimed to demonstrate the clinical utility of Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) in pathogen identification; NGS is a maturing technology enabling the detection of miniscule amounts of cell-free microbial DNA from the bloodstream. Methods: We utilized a novel Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) test on plasma samples to diagnose a series of HIV-associated OIs that were diagnostically confirmed through conventional microbial testing. Results: In all cases, NGS test results were available sooner than conventional testing. This is the first case series demonstrating the utility of whole-genome NGS testing to identify OIs from plasma in HIV/AIDS patients. Conclusion: NGS approaches present a clinically-actionable, comprehensive means of diagnosing OIs and other systemic infections while avoiding the labor, expense, and delays of multiple tests and invasive procedures.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 7-11 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Open AIDS Journal |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2019 |
Keywords
- Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- Cellfree dna
- Cryptosporidium
- Human immunodeficiency virus
- Mycobacterium avium complex
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Next-generation sequencing
- Opportunistic infections
- Toxoplasma gondii
- Toxoplasmosis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology