Plasma microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) is a key biomarker for diagnosing bloodstream infections (BSIs), which contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with severe trauma, chronic illnesses, or immunosuppressive conditions. However, the baseline distribution of mcfDNA in different populations remains unclear. This study characterizes plasma mcfDNA profiles across various human populations.

Febrile haematological patients are at high risk for potential bloodstream infections, the rapid and accurate identification of pathogens is crucial for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) is a novel and ultra-sensitively molecular technique for the rapid detection of pathogens. We evaluated the ability of ddPCR to identify infectious etiologies to discuss the applicability of ddPCR in the diagnosis and treatment of infections for febrile haematological patients.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), the most common fungal infection, is associated with high mortality of affected patients.

Though droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) has emerged as a promising tool for early pathogen detection in bloodstream infections (BSIs), more studies are needed to support its clinical application widely due to different ddPCR platforms with discrepant diagnostic performance. Additionally, there is still a lack of clinical data to reveal the association between pathogen loads detected by ddPCR and corresponding BSIs.

Timely management of sepsis with early targeted antimicrobial therapy improves patient outcomes. Rapid molecular assays (RMAs) have emerged, enabling the detection of bloodstream infection (BSI) with a shorter turnaround time than blood cultures (BCs). The accuracy of several RMAs has not been comprehensively reviewed. We aimed to identify commercial RMAs reported in the literature and evaluate their diagnostic performance compared to BC.

On the application of nanopore-targeted sequencing (NTS) as a diagnostic tool for suspected bloodstream infections (BSIs) in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This technique demonstrates potential as a preferred diagnostic tool for the early identification of BSIs and drug-resistant genes.