Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing for Diagnosis of Ascites Infection in End-stage Liver Diseases

Plain-language summary

Ascites is the most common complication of cirrhosis, and its development is associated with substantially increased mortality. Ascites infection including spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), bacterascites and fungal infections. SBP is one of the most feared complications of ascites. The EASL guidelines recommend that diagnostic criteria of SBP is defined on the ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) count ≥250 cell/μl, with or without ascites fluid positive culture. However, in clinical practice. Up to 30% of hospitalized patients are considered as suspicious SBP, and treated as SBP without a laboratory-confirmed cause of infection. and is present in 10-30% of all hospitalized patients with ascites. Besides, fungal infection in ascites was aslo related to high mortality in cirrhosis patients. Thus, to diagnose ascites infection promptly is the key step to prevent the complication. Since, the sensitivity of bacterial culture is limited even if ascites is directly injected into blood culture bottles at the besides. New method to identified the pathogen is needed. Here, we aim to use metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS) to provide the first-ever demonstration of precision medicine for the diagnosis of ascites infection in hospitalized patients, with immediate impact on clinical care and patients outcomes. The method of mNGS is undertaken by BGI Genomics Company which is a licensed clinical diagnostic laboratory in China. In this multicenter and prospective clinical study, we are planning to detect ascites sample by mNGS and compare the performance of mNGS and routine microbiological testing. Ultimately, we aim to improve the diagnosis of ascites infection and improve patients' outcomes.

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