Approaches to developing and implementing a molecular diagnostics stewardship program for infectious diseases: an ASM...

Area of Science:

• Clinical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Molecular microbiology tests have rapidly advanced, increasing the need for optimized utilization.
• Diagnostic stewardship (DxS) is crucial for managing complex infectious disease testing.
• A multidisciplinary approach is essential for effective test selection, interpretation, and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide recommendations for establishing collaborative diagnostic stewardship teams.
• To outline methods for identifying high-priority molecular tests for utilization assessment.
• To guide the selection and monitoring of diagnostic stewardship interventions.

Main Methods:

• Review of current practices and literature on diagnostic stewardship in molecular microbiology.
• Development of a strategic framework for implementing and assessing DxS interventions.
• Identification of key stakeholders and collaborative team structures.

Main Results:

• Recommendations for building effective multidisciplinary DxS teams, including microbiologists and diverse stakeholders.
• Approaches to prioritize molecular tests for stewardship interventions based on utilization and impact.
• Strategies for selecting and monitoring the effectiveness of stewardship interventions.

Conclusions:

• Implementing a structured diagnostic stewardship program is vital for optimizing molecular microbiology testing.
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary teams are key to successful DxS implementation.
• Strategic assessment and intervention can enhance patient care and reduce resource waste in infectious disease diagnostics.