Commentary on Rapid Molecular Testing for Urinary Tract Infections: A Diagnostic Stewardship Perspective

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) pose a major challenge for clinicians caring for patients residing in post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) facilities. One of the main challenges is that UTIs are difficult to diagnose, leading to frequent misdiagnoses or overdiagnoses. The article by Palat and colleagues examined the benefits and limitations of rapid molecular testing in the diagnosis of UTIs in PALTC settings, in comparison to standard urinalysis (UA) and urine culture (UC).1 Palat and colleagues further explored the potential role for molecular testing of UTIs using a 5-step framework that promotes diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship, the 5 Rs: Right test; Right patient; Right time; Right bug; and Right drug (if needed).