Diagnostic Stewardship for Multiplex Respiratory Testing: What We Know and What Needs to Be Done

Abstract

Syndromic respiratory panels are now widely available in clinical microbiology laboratories and health care institutions. These panels can rapidly diagnose infections and detect antimicrobial resistance genes allowing for more rapid therapeutic optimization compared to standard microbiology approaches. However, given reimbursement concerns and limitations of multiplex molecular testing and results interpretation, maximum clinical utility and positive clinical outcomes depend on active diagnostic stewardship. Here, the authors review clinical outcomes of both upper and lower respiratory panels and present diagnostic stewardship strategies for optimal use of respiratory panels.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Clinical utility; Diagnostic stewardship; Pneumonia; Respiratory infections; Syndromic panels.