Publication Name	World Journal of Gastroenterology
Manuscript ID	118717
Country	China

Category	Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Manuscript Type	Retrospective Study
Article Title	Machine learning-driven pathogen cluster analysis identifies high-risk subtypes of infected pancreatic necrosis in a multi-center cohort
Manuscript Source	Unsolicited Manuscript
All Author List	Bai-Qi Liu, Ze-Fang Sun, Cai-Hong Ning, Jie Xiao, Di Wu, Chia-Yen Lin, Xiao-Yue Hong, Rong Guo, Lu Chen, Xin-Tong Cao, Ding-Cheng Shen and Geng-Wen Huang
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number National Natural Science Foundation of China 82570772 and 82403227 China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2024M763715
Corresponding Author	Geng-Wen Huang, Full Professor, MD, PhD, Division of Pancreatic Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 97 Xiangya Road, Kaifu District, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China. huanggengwen@csu.edu.cn
Key Words	Infected pancreatic necrosis; Machine learning; Pathogen clustering; Multidrug-resistant organisms; Risk stratification
Core Tip	Infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is clinically heterogeneous, however current risk stratification relies largely on physiological scores and overlooks pathogen patterns. Using unsupervised machine learning, we identified four reproducible pathogen-based IPN subtypes with markedly different mortality risks in a multicenter cohort. High-risk subtypes were driven by co-occurrence of multidrug-resistant organisms and fungi, whereas Escherichia coli–dominant polymicrobial infections were associated with favorable outcomes. This study highlights pathogen clustering as a clinically actionable approach for prognostic stratification and personalized infection management in IPN.
Citation	Liu BQ, Sun ZF, Ning CH, Xiao J, Wu D, Lin CY, Hong XY, Guo R, Chen L, Cao XT, Shen DC, Huang GW. Machine learning-driven pathogen cluster analysis identifies high-risk subtypes of infected pancreatic necrosis in a multi-center cohort. World J Gastroenterol 2026; In press

Received	2026-01-12 06:14
Peer-Review Started	2026-01-12 06:15
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-01-20 10:40
Return for Revision	2026-01-20 10:40
Revised	2026-02-02 14:37
Publication Fee Transferred	2026-02-06 08:43
Second Decision by Editor	2026-03-30 02:37
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-03-30 07:19
Articles in Press	2026-03-30 07:19
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1007-9327 (print) and 2219-2840 (online)
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Copyright	©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
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