Published Studies

Metagenomics in diagnosis and improved targeted treatment of UTI
World J Urol. 2020;38:35–43
Review Article: An extensive publication review of metagenomic sequencing's clinical applications in urological science – including UTI, prophylaxis prior to transrectal prostate biopsy, prostate cancer research, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, urgency urinary incontinence and neurogenic bladder management – and improved targeted treatment results. Read Article

MP71-03 Comparison of Novel DNA-Based Tools for Bacterial Detection in Patients with Chronic Urinary Tract Infection (CUTI)
The Journal of Urology. 2019;201(4S):e1046-e1047. Supplement, Sunday, May 6, 2019.
Meeting Abstract: In a prospective, feasibility, bi-institutional study, four methods of chronic UTI microbiome identification were compared in a population of 74 chronic UTI patients using C&S, extended C&S + PCR, Volente Diagnostics, and MicroGenDX qPCR + NGS. A significant difference in accuracy was observed between C&S versus MicroGenDX. MicroGenDX identified microbes in 17 culture negative patients, and identified causative pathogens in 67 of 69 patients. The MicroGenDX methodology provided the most accurate detection of UTI pathogens over other methods. Read Abstract

MP47-07 Comparative Value of Chronic Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Diagnosis Between Standard Culture Sensitivity and Next Generation Sequence (NGS) in Urine Samples
The Journal of Urology. 2019;201(4S):e689. Supplement, Sunday, May 5, 2019.
Meeting Abstract: Using urine samples, the accuracy of C&S versus qPCR + NGS was compared in a 69 UTI patients in a prospective, feasibility, bi-institutional study. C&S failed to identify microbes in 17 infected patients. When compared, NGS test results were more accurate than C&S (97% versus 46%) and revealed a greater presence of polymicrobial pathogens. Read Abstract

MP15-14 The value of next generation DNA sequencing testing in rectal swabs before transrectal prostate biopsy for individual and targeted prophylaxis of urinary tract infection
The Journal of Urology. 2018;199(4S):e194. Supplement, Friday, May 18, 2018.
Meeting Abstract: In a phase I study, rectal swabs from 24 patients were collected prior to transrectal prostate biopsy. Based on qPCR + NGS nucleic acid analysis, clinicians provided an individualized, targeted prophylaxis in 15 patients with multidrug resistance (14 patients with fluoroquinolone resistance). In 8 patients, different fungal species were detected, with multi-fungal associations in 4 of these. Subsequent targeted prophylaxis prevented infectious complications in 23 of the 24 patients. Read Abstract

MP23-06 An utilization of next generation sequencing of urine samples for monitoring of urinary tract infections in patients with neurogenic bladder
The Journal of Urology. 2018;199(4S): e283. Supplement, Friday, May 18, 2018.
Meeting Abstract: In a retrospective study, urine-derived nucleic acid samples were assessed using qPCR + NGS to monitor 13 neurogenic bladder patients. All 13 patients had between 1 and 9 microorganisms present, 10 with a high bacterial load and one with 5 fungal species. Nine patients had antibiotic resistance genes, with 6 having multidrug resistance. Significantly, quinolone resistant E.coli was present in many of the patients, suggesting a required change from empiric therapy to a tailored treatment protocol. Read Abstract

An implementation of next generation sequencing for prevention and diagnosis of urinary tract infection in urology
Can J Urol. 2018;25(3):9349-9356.
STUDY: qPCR + NGS was used to identify bacterial and fungal pathogens in 112 UTI patients (acute cystitis, rectal swabs before transrectal prostate biopsy, neurogenic bladder, and chronic bacterial prostatitis). In comparison to culture analysis, qPCR + NGS patients experienced superior targeted treatment outcomes related to detection of resistance genes and anaerobic and culture-independent pathogens. Read Study

A Head-to-Head Comparative Phase II Study of Standard Urine Culture and Sensitivity Versus DNA Next-generation Sequencing Testing for Urinary Tract Infections
Rev Urol. 2017;19(4):213–220.
STUDY: 44 acute cystitis patients and 22 control group patients were treated based on either C&S or qPCR + NGS DNA sequencing results. The acute cystitis patients and the control group patients were randomly assigned to be treated either based on culture results or qPCR + NGS DNA sequencing results. On day 14, symptom scores from those treated based on qPCR + NGS DNA sequencing results were statistically better than for those treated based on culture results. Read Study