Pathogenic Metagenomic Next-generation Sequencing to Optimize the Diagnosis of Decompensated Cirrhosis Infection

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is emerging as an important culture-independent technique that can detect nearly all known pathogens simultaneously from a clinical sample.Sequencing of microbial cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has recently been shown to enable diagnosis of several infection. Relevant studies on the clinical application of mNGS in cirrhosis patients are rare. The primary aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the fragments of genomic DNA from circulating microorganisms in acutely decompensated cirrhosis patients by sequencing the microbial cfDNA and relate this to clinical outcomes. The secondary aim was to validate the potential role of CMV reactivation, a known NHV with available antiviral medicines, in determining the prognosis of decompensated cirrhosis patients.