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Practice Guideline
. 2013 Aug;57(4):e22-e121.
doi: 10.1093/cid/cit278. Epub 2013 Jul 10.

A guide to utilization of the microbiology laboratory for diagnosis of infectious diseases: 2013 recommendations by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM)(a)

Ellen Jo Baron  1 , J Michael Miller, Melvin P Weinstein, Sandra S Richter, Peter H Gilligan, Richard B Thomson Jr, Paul Bourbeau, Karen C Carroll, Sue C Kehl, W Michael Dunne, Barbara Robinson-Dunn, Joseph D Schwartzman, Kimberle C Chapin, James W Snyder, Betty A Forbes, Robin Patel, Jon E Rosenblatt, Bobbi S Pritt
Affiliations
Practice Guideline

A guide to utilization of the microbiology laboratory for diagnosis of infectious diseases: 2013 recommendations by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM)(a)

Ellen Jo Baron et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Aug.

Abstract

The critical role of the microbiology laboratory in infectious disease diagnosis calls for a close, positive working relationship between the physician and the microbiologists who provide enormous value to the health care team. This document, developed by both laboratory and clinical experts, provides information on which tests are valuable and in which contexts, and on tests that add little or no value for diagnostic decisions. Sections are divided into anatomic systems, including Bloodstream Infections and Infections of the Cardiovascular System, Central Nervous System Infections, Ocular Infections, Soft Tissue Infections of the Head and Neck, Upper Respiratory Infections, Lower Respiratory Tract infections, Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract, Intraabdominal Infections, Bone and Joint Infections, Urinary Tract Infections, Genital Infections, and Skin and Soft Tissue Infections; or into etiologic agent groups, including Tickborne Infections, Viral Syndromes, and Blood and Tissue Parasite Infections. Each section contains introductory concepts, a summary of key points, and detailed tables that list suspected agents; the most reliable tests to order; the samples (and volumes) to collect in order of preference; specimen transport devices, procedures, times, and temperatures; and detailed notes on specific issues regarding the test methods, such as when tests are likely to require a specialized laboratory or have prolonged turnaround times. There is redundancy among the tables and sections, as many agents and assay choices overlap. The document is intended to serve as a reference to guide physicians in choosing tests that will aid them to diagnose infectious diseases in their patients.

Keywords: laboratory diagnosis; medical laboratories; microbiology testing; physician-laboratory communication; specimen processing.

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References

    1. Baron EJ, Weinstein MP, Dunne WMJ, Yagupsky P, Welch DF, Wilson DM, editors. Cumitech 1C, blood cultures IV. Washington, DC: ASM Press; 2005.
    1. Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. Principles and procedures for blood cultures; Approved Guideline. CLSI document M47-A. Wayne, PA: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute; 2007.
    1. Baron EJ, Scott JD, Tompkins LS. Prolonged incubation and extensive subculturing do not increase recovery of clinically significant microorganisms from standard automated blood cultures. Clin Infect Dis. 2005;41:1677–80. - PubMed
    1. Petti CA, Bhally HS, Weinstein MP, et al. Utility of extended blood culture incubation for isolation of Haemophilus, Actinobacillus, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella, and Kingella organisms: a retrospective multicenter evaluation. J Clin Microbiol. 2006;44:257–9. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cockerill FR, 3rd, Wilson JW, Vetter EA, et al. Optimal testing parameters for blood cultures. Clin Infect Dis. 2004;38:1724–30. - PubMed

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