Purpose of review: The infectious complications of transplantation can have devastating consequences for patients. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential to good outcomes. This review describes recent advances in pathogen-directed diagnostic testing and discusses the role of new methods for transplant infectious diseases.
Recent findings: Several molecular assays have been introduced into clinical practice in recent years. When the results of rapid testing are linked to patient-specific interventions, improved outcomes can be realized. Syndromic testing along with metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) represents novel approaches to infection diagnosis. However, the optimal use of these tests for transplant patients along with an overall assessment of cost-effectiveness demands further study. Molecular diagnostics are revolutionizing transplant care. Clinicians need to be aware of the current diagnostic landscape and have a working knowledge of the nuances related to test performance, result interpretation, and cost.
Keywords: Immunocompromised host; Molecular testing; PCR-based assays; Syndromic testing; Transplant infections, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).