Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41767635›Full record

ArticleOpen forum infectious diseases2026

Changes in Access to Comprehensive Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Testing in Tennessee From 2019-2024.

Kaleb Wolfe, Stephanie A Hart, Stacy Curry-Johnson, Ayesha Khan, Garrett S Booth, Russell B Bowden, William D Dupont, W Dale Plummer, Romney Humphries, Joesph R Wiencek

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Open forum infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Kaleb WolfeDivision of Infectious Diseases, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9282-3597
Stephanie A HartPathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8502-5834
Stacy Curry-JohnsonGeographic Information Systems Lab, Vanderbilt University Libraries, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Ayesha KhanPathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Garrett S BoothPathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8422-9480
Russell B BowdenTennessee Department of Health Laboratory Services, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4745-3511
William D DupontDepartment of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8166-599X
W Dale PlummerDepartment of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Romney HumphriesPathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Joesph R WiencekPathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9595-6299

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Timely clinical microbiology laboratory testing is crucial for effective infectious disease management, impacting antibiotic selection, patient outcomes, and health care costs. This study aimed to evaluate changes in geographic access to comprehensive (Tier 1) clinical microbiology laboratories in Tennessee between 2019 and 2024. Methods: With the help of the Tennessee Department of Health, Tier 1 microbiology laboratories in Tennessee were identified for both 2019 and 2024. Catchment areas were calculated using a 25-mile drive-time radius around each laboratory. Changes in the number and location of Tier 1 laboratories were quantified, and demographic data were compared between laboratories that stayed open and those that closed. Results: The number of Tier 1 microbiology laboratories in Tennessee decreased by 38% over the 5-year period, and this resulted in a 35% decrease in square-mile coverage across the state. Covariates associated with laboratory closure included rurality, lower income, higher poverty, race, higher disability, and less education. Conclusions: A substantial decline in the number of Tier 1 clinical microbiology laboratories in Tennessee between 2019 and 2024 has decreased local access to comprehensive testing in areas with at-risk patient populations. This may have implications for timely diagnosis, appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and, ultimately, patient outcomes. Further research is needed to evaluate the clinical and economic consequences of these changes in laboratory access.

Indexed as

clinical microbiologygeographic accesshealth equitylaboratory consolidationsocial determinants of health

Identifiers

PMID41767635
PMCPMC12947847

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.