biostudies-literatureUnknown9Li X<h4>Background</h4>Anaerobic meningitis is a severe central nervous system infection associated with significant neurological sequelae and high mortality. However, the precise detection of causative pathogen(s) remains difficult because anaerobic bacteria are difficult to culture. Next-generation sequencing is a technology that was developed recently and has been applied in many fields. To the best of our knowledge, the use of next-generation sequencing for cerebrospinal fluid analysis in the diagnosis of anaerobic meningitis has been rarely reported.<h4>Case presentation</h4>Here, we report a case of polymicrobial anaerobic meningitis diagnosed using next-generation sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid in a 16-year-old girl. Five species of anaerobic bacteria (<i>Porphyromonas gingivalis, PrFrontiers in medicine840910https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8902384biostudies-literaturePolymicrobial Anaerobic Meningitis Detected by Next-Generation Sequencing: Case Report and Review of the Literature.PMC8902384Li XLong XDu HWang HSong ZfalsePolymicrobial Anaerobic Meningitis Detected by Next-Generation Sequencing: Case Report and Review of the Literature.<h4>Background</h4>Anaerobic meningitis is a severe central nervous system infection associated with significant neurological sequelae and high mortality. However, the precise detection of causative pathogen(s) remains difficult because anaerobic bacteria are difficult to culture. Next-generation sequencing is a technology that was developed recently and has been applied in many fields. To the best of our knowledge, the use of next-generation sequencing for cerebrospinal fluid analysis in the diagnosis of anaerobic meningitis has been rarely reported.<h4>Case presentation</h4>Here, we report a case of polymicrobial anaerobic meningitis diagnosed using next-generation sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid in a 16-year-old girl. Five species of anaerobic bacteria (<i>Porphyromonas gingivalis, Pr2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-05T15:58:48.444Z2025-04-05T15:58:48.444ZS-EPMC89023843527398210.3389/fmed.2022.840910