Advancing Diagnostic Stewardship for Healthcare-Associated Infections, Antibiotic Resistance, and Sepsis

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases 2022-03, Vol.74 (4), p.723-728
• Main Authors: Curren, Emily J, Lutgring, Joseph D, Kabbani, Sarah, Diekema, Daniel J, Gitterman, Steven, Lautenbach, Ebbing, Morgan, Daniel J, Rock, Clare, Salerno, Reynolds M, McDonald, L Clifford
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antimicrobial Stewardship; Cross Infection - drug therapy; Delivery of Health Care; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Humans; Sepsis - diagnosis; Sepsis - drug therapy
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab672

Abstract Diagnostic stewardship means ordering the right tests for the right patient at the right time to inform optimal clinical care. Diagnostic stewardship is an integral part of antibiotic stewardship efforts to optimize antibiotic use and improve patient outcomes, including reductions in antibiotic resistance and treatment of sepsis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion hosted a meeting on improving patient safety through diagnostic stewardship with a focus on use of the laboratory. At the meeting, emerging issues in the field of diagnostic stewardship were identified, awareness of these issues among stakeholders was raised, and strategies and interventions to address the issues were discussed—all with an emphasis on improved outcomes and patient safety. Here, we summarize the key takeaways of the meeting including needs for diagnostic stewardship implementation, promising future avenues for diagnostic stewardship implementation, and areas of needed research. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–hosted meeting focused on improving patient safety through diagnostic stewardship, including key needs identified during breakout discussions that centered on how to modify laboratory test ordering, performance, and reporting to optimize clinical care and outcomes.