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The role and impact of molecular diagnostics in modern clinical microbiology
Date
2022
Abstract
Molecular diagnostics is defined as methods using detection of genomic material or variants to detect, diagnose, classify, prognosticate, and guide treatment for illness. It has playing an increasing role in diagnostic testing within the speciality of clinical microbiology since the 1990s. There has been growing use of different molecular diagnostics ranging in the speciality, from whole genome sequencing in reference laboratories to point-of-care testing of infectious diseases in the last 10 years. Each molecular method provides its own unique strengths and weaknesses in diagnosing infectious diseases. Nonetheless, diagnostic technologies can often outpace evidence for their clinical utility in guiding patient management. It is important that research is undertaken to ascertain the benefit of molecular diagnostics with regard to the diagnosis of illnesses, management of patients, antimicrobial prescribing and infection prevention and control practices. This thesis aims to look at this important research question by exploring the clinical utility of three different molecular diagnostic methods applied to a large tertiary referral hospital in the Mid-West of Ireland in the last 8 years. Unique challenges pertinent to Mid-West of Ireland include bed shortages and severe crowding of the emergency department, especially during peak seasonal influenza periods. In this setting, molecular diagnostics have the potential role to expedite patient care and allowing the optimisation of healthcare resources by reducing the impact of costly healthcare associated outbreaks of infection. The results of this thesis will help with understanding of the role of molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases in the Irish healthcare system and hopefully lead to further research in the area.
Supervisor
Colum P. Dunne
Nuala O'Connell
Nuala O'Connell
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Teoh_2022_Role.pdf
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Funding Information
Sustainable Development Goals
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Type
Thesis
Rights
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/