Diagnostic stewardship: a guide to implementation in antimicrobial resistance surveillance sites

Overview

This guide has been developed to support the practice of robust microbiological diagnosis, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), in patients presenting with clinical symptoms compatible with infectious diseases; a concept known as “diagnostic stewardship”. It is of particular relevance to health-care workers and laboratory and surveillance staff working in settings in which microbiological diagnosis is not systematically part of patient management or treatment decisions.

The concept of “diagnostic stewardship” at surveillance sites is an important component of AMR surveillance in humans as well as in the overall AMR control strategy. It is referred to in the GLASS Manual for Early Implementation but it does not contain a detailed explanation or guidance on successful implementation. This guide has been developed as an accompaniment to the manual, to elaborate on this concept and to provide practical support to surveillance sites participating in GLASS.