A rare case report of Prevotella lung abscess diagnosed using third-generation metagenomic sequencing

Abstract

The Prevotella genus consists of obligate anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria that are symbiotic with the oral, intestinal, and vaginal mucosa. While several species of Prevotella have been implicated in pulmonary infections, identification of Prevotella as the causative agent of lung abscess is uncommon because of the requirement for stringent anaerobic culture conditions. In this report, we highlight a case of lung abscess caused by Prevotella salivae and Prevotella veroralis, underscoring the importance of third-generation metagenomic sequencing using devices from Oxford Nanopore Technologies for the precise diagnosis of specific pathogens.