Caution against using plasma mNGS for NHSN CLABSI surveillance
Published
Sept 22, 2025
Source
Zoe F Weiss, Eliezer Zachary Nussbaum, Bhavarth Shukla, Shira Doron, Kap Sum FoongÂ
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2025 Sep 22:1-2
PMID: 40977322
Abstract
We read with interest the recent expansion of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance criteria to include non-culture-based testing (NCT), including plasma metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), in bloodstream infection (BSI) definitions. 1 While mNGS provides diagnostic utility in complex cases, Reference MacIntyre, Hirst, Duttagupta, Hollemon, Hong and Blauwkamp2 we have concerns about its integration into healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance frameworks such as NHSN, where standardization, reproducibility, and clinical relevance are essential.
Posted by
Rima Mycynek