Clinical Microbiologists as Decision-Support Specialists: Clinicians' Views on Microbiology Consultation, Stewardship, and the Future Role of the Specialty

Abstract

The clinical value of microbiological diagnostics depends on whether results are translated into bedside decisions. There are differing opinions and traditions around what role the physician microbiologist should have in this translation from laboratory results to treatment. We performed a cross-sectional questionnaire study among hospital clinicians in Møre and Romsdal Health Trust, Norway, to explore perceptions of microbiology-based decision support and the future role of physician clinical microbiologists. A total of 251 clinicians responded. Of these, 85.7% treated patients with suspected or confirmed infection more often than monthly. Among this key clinical subgroup, 90.7% considered microbiology decision support to be in the top two of five categories of usefulness; only 0.8% found it not useful. 94.9% found the advice professionally relevant, 95.8% found it easy to translate into action, 98.1% reported usually following recommendations, 88.8% reported that the support contributed to better antibiotic use, 87.0% to faster or safer clinical decisions, and 97.7% were positive toward an active clinical advisory role by physician clinical microbiologists. The findings support a clinically integrated model where clinical microbiologists contribute not only as laboratory specialists, but as decision-support partners in infection management.