Author summary Mucormycosis is an infrequent yet highly lethal invasive fungal infection. Prompt diagnosis and intervention are crucial. The clinical presentations of mucormycosis in patients with concurrent hematological malignancies often lack specificity, rendering early clinical detection challenging. In recent years, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has emerged as a novel diagnostic technology. This method facilitates the identification of non-cultivable pathogenic microorganisms by employing high-throughput sequencing technology (Next-Generation Sequencing, NGS) to sequence nucleic acid molecules from microorganisms present in environmental or biological samples without discrimination or bias. The sequencing data are subsequently compared and analyzed against a comprehensive microbial sequence database to perform qualitative or quantitative assessments of the microorganisms present in the samples. Notably, mNGS does not require specific amplification and is characterized by its rapidity, sensitivity, and accuracy, making it a valuable adjunct to traditional diagnostic methods such as culture.In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics, epidemiological features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of 46 patients with suspected hematological malignancies complicated by mucormycosis. Our findings underscore the critical importance of promptly conducting relevant examinations when mucormycosis infection is suspected in patients with hematological malignancies. mNGS emerges as a potentially valuable adjunctive tool for early diagnosis, particularly in cases where histopathological examination or culture is not feasible. We highlight the necessity of timely diagnosis and intervention, judicious use of corticosteroids, regulation of neutrophil counts to mitigate risk factors, and enhancement of the patient’s immune function as pivotal strategies to reduce mortality rates in patients with hematological malignancies complicated by mucormycosis.
Result
The median age of admission for the included patients was 49 years (9–78), with 69.6% (32/46) being males and 30.4% (14/46) being females. The distribution of underlying diseases among the 46 patients is outlined in Fig 1, with acute leukemia … [16101 chars]
Source: PLOS (Public Library of Science) | Published: 2025-09-26T00:00:00Z
Credit: PLOS (Public Library of Science)
