Objective:To explore the application and value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in refractory infection after organ transplantation.Methods:A case report discussed about a patient with lumbar spine infection after kidney transplantation and the relevant literature was reviewed. The recipient was a 63-year-old man with low back pain after kidney transplantation. Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging showed lumbar spine infection. Multiple operations plus antibacterial and antituberculosis treatments were ineffective. Before and after treatment, numerous tests of traditional pathogenic microorganisms failed to detect any positive bacteria.Results:The detection of lumbar secretion by mNGS suggested aspergillus infection. The symptoms improved after dosing of voriconazole.Conclusions:The incidence of fungal infection of lumbar spine is low. The imaging manifestations are non-typical so that it is easy to misdiagnose. mNGS helps to timely diagnose and guide treatment. With a review of the literature, mNGS has some application value for some difficult and rare infectious diseases.

Objective:To investigate the value of serum CD64, heparin binding protein (HBP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in early diagnosis of septic shock and its prognostic value.Methods:The clinical data of 40 children with sepsis (sepsis group) and 40 children with septic shock (septic shock group) in Children′s Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2018 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. PCT was detected by chemiluminescence, HBP was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and CD 64 was detected by flow cytometry. All children were followed up within 1 month after discharge, and the occurrence of poor prognosis (including multiple organ failure and death) was recorded. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of serum CD 64, HBP and PCT for septic shock. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for poor prognosis in children with septic shock. Results:The serum CD 64, HBP and PCT in septic shock group were significantly higher than those in sepsis group: 0.667 ± 0.120 vs. 0.501 ± 0.115, (116.46 ± 11.41) μg/L vs. (87.34 ± 23.49) μg/L and (11.41 ± 1.25) μg/L vs. (9.29 ± 1.31) μg/L respectively, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). ROC curve analysis result showed that the area under curve (AUC) of serum CD 64, HBP and PCT for predicting septic shock were 0.837, 0.894 and 0.880 respectively, and the optimal cut-off values were 0.586, 106.2 μg/L and 11.28 μg/L respectively; the AUC of serum CD 64, HBP and PCT combined detection for predicting septic shock was 0.914, with a sensitivity of 75.7%, specificity of 96.0%, and accuracy of 71.7%. According to the optimal cut-off values of serum CD 64, HBP and PCT, 40 children with septic shock were divided into high expression group and low expression group. The prognosis was good in 25 cases and bad in 15 cases. The incidence of poor prognosis in CD 64 high expression group, HBP high expression group and PCT high expression group was significantly higher than that in corresponding CD 64 low expression group, HBP low expression group and PCT low expression group: 56.52% (13/23) vs. 2/17, 10/17 vs. 21.74% (5/23) and 11/18 vs. 18.18% (4/22), and there was statistical difference ( P<0.01 or <0.05). Multivariate Logistics regression analysis result showed that serum CD64, HBP and PCT were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in children with septic shock ( OR = 0.818, 1.204 and 3.633; 95% CI 0.674 to 0.994, 1.022 to 1.419 and 1.090 to 12.108; P = 0.043, 0.026 and 0.036). Conclusions:The serum levels of CD 64, HBP and PCT in children with septic shock are significantly increased, which play an important role in the occurrence and development of septic shock, and which have predictive value for septic shock. The combined detection of the 3 indexes could be used to evaluate the prognosis, with a higher predictive value.