Same-day test helps doctors detect hidden infections in critically ill children
Doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital are using metagenomic testing to identify drug-resistant infections in critically ill children. This diagnostic method sequences all genetic material in a sample, allowing for faster and more accurate treatment.
Why it matters
This technology represents a significant advancement in pediatric critical care, potentially saving lives by identifying pathogens that standard tests miss.
Figure caption, Same-day test helps detect hidden infections in critically ill children
Medical editor Published 10 minutes ago A pioneering same-day test has been used to detect hidden and drug-resistant infections among children in intensive care.
Respiratory samples from more than 100 critically ill young patients at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) were sent for what is known as metagenomic testing. , external
It can identify bacteria, viruses and fungi from a single sample, which in many cases influences what doctors prescribe.
Metagenomics can detect infections that standard tests miss, meaning better outcomes for some critically ill patients.
In March, 10-year-old Willow Crowther became dangerously ill with pneumonia, which triggered a seizure and multiple cardiac arrests.
Willow, from Kent, was admitted to intensive care at GOSH. Her mum, Stacey Moore, was told she had a 50% chance of survival.
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