title: The role of the microbiology laboratory in antimicrobial stewardship programs.
abstract: One of the impediments to the success of antimicrobial stewardship is the lack of availability of rapid and sensitive laboratory tests. The last decade has seen an explosion in new technologies that permit, in less than 4 hours, the identification of organisms and their resistance markers. In addition, the use of biomarkers has been explored in algorithms to distinguish infections that require antimicrobial agents. Clinical microbiology laboratories also contribute to the success of stewardship programs through compilation of aggregate antimicrobial susceptibility data. This article reviews rapid diagnostics, the use of biomarkers, and antibiogram development to antimicrobial stewardship activities and the subsequent impact on patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Osler 425, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Electronic address: eavdic1@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Edina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avdic
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Meyer B1-193, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibiogram; Antimicrobial stewardship; Microbiology laboratory; Procalcitonin; Rapid diagnostics