Diagnostics and Decisions: Molecular Test Insights in Shared Decision-Making for Managing Respiratory Infections

Advancements in diagnostic technologies for the evaluation of infectious disease complaints in the outpatient setting have improved the speed and accuracy of pathogen detection and created the opportunity for higher accuracy in treatment planning. The benefits of these advanced diagnostics insights can be optimized when coupled with robust shared decision-making between the patient and clinician during the clinical encounter. This manuscript describes the process for the integration of results from molecular testing for respiratory tract infection into a shared decision-making framework. It also explores how this synergy may lead to improved patient outcomes, enhanced health care delivery, and more collaborative care, while enhancing diagnosis and treatment of respiratory infections in various clinical settings.