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High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
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The Clinical Microbiology Laboratory and the Opioid Epidemic: Challenges and Opportunities

Simeon D Kimmel1, Nancy S Miller2

  • 1Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA; Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA.

Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
|August 13, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Injection drug use drives infections, straining clinical microbiology labs with complex pathogens and high test volumes. Labs need revised protocols, resources, and better communication to manage this public health challenge.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Injection drug use (IDU) is a growing public health crisis associated with increased patient infections.
  • The significant impact of IDU-related infections on clinical microbiology laboratories is often overlooked.
  • These infections present unique diagnostic challenges due to diverse pathogens and increased testing demands.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the unrecognized burden of injection drug use-related infections on clinical microbiology laboratories.
  • To describe the specific challenges faced by these laboratories, including workflow and technological limitations.
  • To suggest strategies for laboratories to better manage this public health issue.

Main Methods:

  • The study describes observed trends and challenges within clinical microbiology workflows.
  • It analyzes the types of pathogens encountered and their impact on standard protocols.
  • The limitations of current diagnostic technologies in addressing these complex cases are discussed.

Main Results:

  • Clinical microbiology laboratories experience significantly increased test volumes and complexity due to IDU-related infections.
  • Pathogens associated with IDU can defy established laboratory protocols, leading to diagnostic difficulties.
  • Existing technologies are often insufficient to meet the demands posed by these infections, straining laboratory resources and workflows.

Conclusions:

  • Clinical microbiology laboratories are under considerable stress from the rise in infections linked to injection drug use.
  • Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach including protocol revisions, increased resources, and enhanced communication.
  • Improved laboratory preparedness is crucial for managing this ongoing public health crisis effectively.
Keywords:
Injection drug associated infectionsMicrobiology laboratoryOpioid crisis

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