Brief
Metagenomic testing saves lives of critically ill children at London hospital
The test detected nine‑in‑ten pathogens and influenced care decisions for a quarter of the cases, according to a study published in Lancet Microbe.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) used same‑day metagenomic testing on 122 critically ill children in its paediatric intensive care unit during 2024‑2025, a study now published in Lancet Microbe shows.
What happened
The test analyses all genetic material in a sample, spotting bacteria, viruses and fungi without needing prior guesses. It identified around nine‑in‑ten of the organisms present and uncovered 50 pathogens missed by routine diagnostics. In about 25% of cases, the results changed prescribing decisions, prompting doctors to start, stop or switch antibiotics.
What the reports add
BBC reporting notes that traditional culture methods date back to Victorian times and that PCR requires clinicians to specify targets, limiting its scope. The new approach can detect thousands of pathogens at once, offering an early‑warning capability for emerging infections.
What was said
Dr Sam Ray, consultant in paediatric intensive care medicine at GOSH and co‑author of the study, said the test “helps us spot infections we would have missed, get children on the right treatment and stop antibiotics when we know they aren’t going to work.” Dr Julianne Brown, head of the GOSH Metagenomics Service, added that the service is being rolled out to about 30 UK intensive‑care units and could “detect a new mystery pathogen quickly and put the right measures in place.”
How it came about
The project builds on earlier trials at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, which first applied metagenomics to adult respiratory infections, expanding the technology to paediatric care at GOSH.
Key facts
- Metagenomic testing was performed on 122 critically ill children in GOSH's ICU in 2024‑2025. (bbc.co.uk)
- The test identified around nine‑in‑ten bacteria, viruses and all fungi in samples. (bbc.co.uk)
- Results influenced prescribing decisions in a quarter of cases. (bbc.co.uk)
- Fifty organisms not found by routine diagnostics were detected. (bbc.co.uk)
- The service is being expanded to roughly 30 UK intensive‑care units. (bbc.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] bbc.co.uk — originally reported as “Same-day test helps doctors detect hidden infections in critically ill children”
