Rapid metagenomic next-generation sequencing during an investigation of hospital-acquired human parainfluenza virus 3 infections

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is increasingly used for the unbiased detection of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and eukaryotic parasites in clinical samples. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of clinical bacterial isolates has been shown to inform hospital infection prevention practices, but the use of this technology during potential respiratory virus outbreaks has not been taken advantage of. Here, we report on the use of mNGS to inform the real-time infection prevention response to a cluster of hospital-acquired human parainfluenza 3 virus (HPIV3) infections at a childrens hospital. Isolates from 3 patients with hospital-acquired HPIV3 identified over a 12-day period on a general m