Plasma cell free next-generation sequencing detects an unusual pneumonia pathogen in an immunocompetent adolescent with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Katherine M Rodriguez; Nanda Ramchandar; Nicole G Coufal

doi:10.3389/fped.2022.1034632

Plasma cell free next-generation sequencing detects an unusual pneumonia pathogen in an immunocompetent adolescent with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Front Pediatr. 2022 Dec 5:10:1034632. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.1034632. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Katherine M Rodriguez^{1

2}, Nanda Ramchandar^{3

4}, Nicole G Coufal^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States.
² Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.
³ Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Navy Medical Center, San Diego, CA, United States.
⁴ Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.

Abstract

This case details a rapid diagnosis of legionella pneumonia causing severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in an otherwise healthy adolescent through plasma microbial cell-free DNA next generation sequencing (mcfDNA-NGS). Diagnosis by mcfDNA-NGS of this unexpected pathogen led to narrowing of antimicrobials and the addition of glucocorticoids as adjunctive therapy for ARDS.

Keywords: acute respiratory distress syndrome; legionella; pediatric critical care; plasma microbial cell-free DNA next generation sequencing; pneumonia.

Publication types

Case Reports