Pharmacist-Led Diagnostics: A New Frontier in Antimicrobial Stewardship

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is accelerating globally, driven by widespread inappropriate antibiotic use and diagnostic uncertainty in primary care. Pharmcist-led point-of-care testing (POCTs) has emerged as a promising model to optimize antibiotic prescribing, improve triage, and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Methods: This scoping review synthesizes current evidence, regulatory models, and implementation data on pharmacist-led diagnostics and antibiotic management across multiple countries. Results: Despite strong policy interest, clinical trial evidence remains limited. Existing studies-primarily pilots, feasibility work, and service evaluations-suggest that POCTs combined with structured pathways reduces inappropriate antibiotic use. Conclusions: Regulatory fragmentation, workforce limitations, and insufficient monitoring systems constrain widespread implementation. Larger, well-designed trials are needed to establish long-term safety, clinical outcomes, and AMS impact.