Table 1.

Examples of utilization management initiatives in clinical microbiology (see text for details).

1. Decision support: test selection for cytomegalovirus testing

2. Reducing blood culture contamination

3. Proper formatting of microbiology reports to avoid misinterpretation

4. Use of MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy for rapid identification of pathogens

5. Antimicrobial stewardship of carbapenems and other expensive antimicrobial agents

6. Rapid point-of-care testing for influenza A and Group A streptococcus: impact on test ordering and antibiotic utilization

7. Rapid molecular diagnostic testing for patients previously colonized with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

8. Use of screening methods to reduce low-yield urine cultures

9. Restricting stool examinations in hospital acquired diarrhea

10. Rapid testing for respiratory viruses: impact on inpatient bed management

11. Application of evidence based medicine: discontinuation of fungal blood cultures

12. Selection and oversight of molecular diagnostics in microbiology