Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Reveals Distinct Pathogen Profiles in Community-Acquired Pneumonia Across Age and...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Genomics

Background:

• Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) poses a significant global health challenge, with its etiological spectrum not fully understood.
• Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) has improved the identification of pathogens causing CAP.
• Understanding pathogen characteristics across diverse patient demographics is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pathogen characteristics in CAP patients using tNGS.
• To analyze etiological spectrum differences based on patient age groups and disease severity.
• To identify specific pathogens prevalent in different demographic and severity strata.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of etiological test results from 272 hospitalized CAP patients (2021-2024).
• Patient stratification by age (e.g., 18-39 years, ≥80 years) and Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) score.
• Systematic evaluation of clinical characteristics, etiological spectrum, and infection patterns.

Main Results:

• Among 145 analyzed patients, 65.52% had multiple infections; elderly patients (≥80 years) showed the highest mixed infection rate (81.82%).
• Viral and fungal detection rates increased with age (e.g., Epstein-Barr virus, Candida albicans); younger patients (18-39 years) were more prone to atypical pathogens (e.g., Mycoplasma pneumoniae).
• Severe CAP cases had higher mixed infection rates (76.92%) than mild cases (59.14%), with triple co-infections concentrated in severe cases. Specific pathogens like Klebsiella spp. and Acinetobacter baumannii were more common in the elderly and severe groups.

Conclusions:

• The etiological spectrum of CAP significantly differs across age groups and severity levels.
• Stratified diagnostic and therapeutic strategies tailored to age and disease severity are essential.
• Optimizing CAP management requires personalized approaches to improve prognosis and reduce antibiotic misuse.