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Abstract
Background: Several rapid molecular diagnostic tests (RMDT) are available for clinical use. The extent to which RMDT have been adopted and the degree to which antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) are involved in the interpretation of RMDT results are unknown.
Methods: We surveyed members of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Research Network (SRN) and the American Society for Microbiology ClinMicroNet listserv (CMN) to characterize RMDT utilization in hospitals and ASP involvement in result communication and interpretation.
Results: Fifty-seven and 90 responses were received from SRN and CMN, respectively. Fifty (88%) SRN and 73 (81%) CMN hospitals used at least one RMDT for bloodstream infection (BSI), and 52 (91%) SRN and 83 (92%) CMN hospitals used one or more RMDT for non-BSI. Twenty-four (48%) SRN and 37 (51%) CMN hospitals had assessed the impact of RMDT for BSI, and many reported positive outcomes. In 40 (80%) SRN and 57 (78%) CMN hospitals, laboratories directly notified a healthcare worker of RMDT results. Fifty-four percent and 42% provided guidelines for antimicrobial optimization based upon RMDT results. Among 47 SRN and 63 CMN hospitals with both RMDT and ASP, 37 (79%) and 52 (83%) reported that the ASP routinely reviewed BSI RMDT results.
Conclusions: RMDT have been widely adopted. Many hospitals involve ASP in communication and interpretation of RMDT results and/or have guidelines for RMDT interpretation, potentially increasing the likelihood that appropriate interventions will be made. Our findings suggest, however, that opportunities to further enhance the potential benefits of RMDT remain.
