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Next-generation sequencing is more effective, efficient, and designed to put patient well-being first compared to microbiology cultures. In healthcare, efficacy and speed are cardinal factors determining courses of analysis, diagnosis, and treatment. However, infectious disease diagnostics, microbiological culture technology — a method dating back 160 years— is still the standard method for determining types and quantities of organisms. However, next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a newer and more accurate method employed by MicroGenDX to generate accurate life-changing — and often life-saving — results in a short timeframe to better suit patient outcomes. Originating from advancements in DNA sequencing, MicroGenDX NGS takes […]

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) continue to pose a substantial healthcare burden worldwide and remain to be one of the most frequent infections seen globally. In the U.S., both adult male and female UTIs account for the most clinic visits every year. According to data gathered by the NIH, around 7 million annual clinic visits were due to UTIs, and there were more than 1 million UTI cases among children. UTIs also accounted for about 1 million urgent care visits and 100,000 hospitalization cases every year. Because UTIs are often treated empirically — where patients are often prescribed antibiotics without a […]

Thanks to advances in sequencing technologies, the complete genome of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus was determined rapidly at the outset of the pandemic. This has proven essential in understanding how SARS-CoV-2 infects humans and causes disease. The SARS-CoV-2 genome contains genetic information for the production of viral spike protein (S protein), which is needed for the virus to attach to and infect human cells. Each viral particle is covered by numerous S proteins, allowing it to bind to a unique protein receptor found on cells in the body. Genomic surveillance — the identification, tracking and monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 variants — […]

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) can be used to diagnose infectious diseases more rapidly and more accurately than traditional methods such as cultures, gram staining, and other biochemical and molecular tests that are organism-specific. In one reported case, NGS correctly identified the infectious organism after nearly 40 different diagnostic tests on 10 sample types. In another scenario, in cases of sepsis, timely targeted treatment with rapid identification of the microbial pathogen can be lifesaving. Instead of delaying diagnosis by ordering and waiting for organism-specific microbiology identification and susceptibility results, MicroGenDX’s qPCR+NGS can identify the bacterial, viral, or fungal source of infection and […]

In several recent award-winning studies, researchers relied on MicroGenDX’s next-generation sequencing DNA diagnostic testing (NGS testing) to precisely test infections for the presence of key compounds. Without NGS testing, there is a potential that these researchers would not have been able to adequately detect these various substances, which would hinder their ability to conduct their respective studies. What Is Next-Generation Sequencing DNA Diagnostics? MicroGenDX’s next-generation sequencing testing is a type of molecular diagnostics that “extracts DNA from a sample to look for the presence of more than 50,000 species of bacteria and fungi in its database.”1 This process ensures that […]

Proper identification of the causative agent in question is critical to ensure appropriate and effective treatment since drug susceptibility profiles can differ drastically among subspecies. Depending on the specific mycobacterial species present in a sample, antibiotic treatment will differ significantly.

MicroGenDX next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized the way infections are diagnosed. As a leader in molecular diagnostics, MicroGenDX can efficiently sequence the entire genome within days, rapidly and accurately identifying microbes present in samples.

About one in five hospital patients in the United States have a urinary catheter, making it one of the most common indwelling devices among hospitalized patients1. A survey conducted by CDC in 20112 found that 45-79% of adult patients in critical care units have urinary catheters. Therefore, the use of urinary catheters is exceptionally prevalent in hospitals.  Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), a form of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), is the most commonly occurring health condition associated with the use of urinary catheters. According to the CDC, about 75% of hospital-acquired UTIs are CAUTIs, and prolonged use of urinary catheters […]

MicroGenDX next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized the way infections are diagnosed. MicroGenDX can efficiently sequence the entire genome within days, thereby rapidly and accurately identifying microbes present in samples.

Viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria are essentially ‘dormant’ bacteria that have intrinsically low metabolic activities and are non-proliferative. They are unable to grow and multiply. Research has pointed to VBNC state as a pro-survival strategy employed by certain bacteria to withstand harsh environmental stressors, such as UV radiation, nutrient deprivation, reduced osmotic potential, oxygen levels, and even antibiotic treatment. These stressors induce injuries in bacteria causing them to enter the VBNC state. This ‘hibernation-like’ state ensures that the bacteria survive and persist despite the difficult conditions. One of the major characteristics of VBNC bacteria is that they do not grow […]

Fungal infections and diseases, when compared to viral or bacterial infections, have always been considered less common, and mostly nonlife-threatening (except to immunocompromised patients or those with comorbidities), and have been unfortunately ignored. However, according to the Journal of Bacteriology & Mycology, this notion has changed in recent years for several reasons. First, the number of immunocompromised individuals has increased globally, largely due to cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and patients who’ve received organ transplants. Second, major changes in healthcare practices over the past decade and advancements of medical care have prompted the emergence of drug-resistant fungi, especially in the healthcare setting. […]