Diagnostics Are the Smartest Investment Hospitals Aren’t Making—Yet
By Claude Mabilat, Director of Medical Value AMR/AMS, Medical Education & Communication, bioMérieux
In the relentless pursuit of healthcare efficiency and better patient care, one truth is becoming increasingly clear: diagnostics are not just clinical tools—they are economic engines.
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and community-acquired infections (CAIs) are costing patients time and healthcare systems billions annually, with the EU alone facing €7 billion in additional costs due to HAIs (1). In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the burden is even heavier, with infection rates and mortality significantly higher.
Yet, the solution is within reach: cost-effective, rapid diagnostics that enable timely, targeted treatment and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.
The evidence is overwhelming. Studies show that rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), especially when paired with antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs, can lead to:
- Shorter hospital stays: Up to 2.3 days less per patient.(2) ·
- Lower mortality rates: Up to 30% reduction in some settings. (3)
- Significant cost savings: €992 per patient in bloodstream infection management. (4)
- Improved quality-adjusted life years (QALYs): i.e., years of life in good condition, with gains of 0.94 QALY per patient when using mass-spectrometry technology MALDI-TOF with AMS for the management of bloodstream infections. (5)
These aren’t just clinical advances — they’re strategic benefits for hospital administrators and policymakers, while also improving patient care. Diagnostics improve patient flow, reduce readmissions, and optimize resource use. They also help combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global threat that undermines the very foundation of modern medicine.
So why the hesitation?
Part of the problem lies in outdated budget models. Hospitals often view diagnostics as cost centers rather than value creators. But the real cost lies not in diagnosing but in delayed appropriate treatments, prolonged ICU stays, and avoidable deaths. The economic models show that investing in diagnostics and AMS result in dominant strategies — better outcomes at lower costs (6) — both in high-income countries and in resource-limited settings, such as Ethiopia.
It’s time for a paradigm shift. Hospital executives, payers, and policy makers must align to ensure policies and procedures improve diagnostics utilization such as incentives to reward diagnostic-driven care. Integrated AMS programs, pay-for-performance models, and digital decision-support systems are already proving their worth. The question is not whether diagnostics are worth it — it’s whether we can afford to ignore them.
Let’s stop treating diagnostics as a luxury and start recognizing them as the cornerstone of sustainable, high-quality healthcare. The data is in. The time is now.
Learn more in the 2025 edition of ‘Cost-effective Diagnostics for Hospital Infection Management.’
DISCLAIMER: This document is not approved for use or distribution in the U.S.
