This article does not present a clinical case report involving a specific patient, symptoms, or pathogen identification. Instead, it is an ASM Laboratory Practices Subcommittee report focusing on the foundational role of the microbiology laboratory in diagnostic stewardship (DxS). It highlights DxS as a cross-disciplinary method to enhance patient care quality and manage healthcare resources effectively. The report emphasizes the critical contributions of clinical microbiology laboratorians in implementing and optimizing DxS initiatives.
Key note: This article is a review or report on diagnostic stewardship, not a clinical case report with a specific pathogen or infection type.