Results of the Second Questionnaire Survey on the Genetic Testing for Infectious Diseases

A technology of genetic analysis has been applied for clinical use. By using such technology, we can de-tect the pathogens earlier than the conventional microorganism tests. In order to understand the current status of the genetic test for infectious diseases, a 2 nd questionnaire survey was conducted among member physician of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases (JAID) between October and November, 2018. Valid responses were obtained from 201 physicians. A percentage of infectious disease specialists certified by the JAID was 50.7%. A percentage of the respondents who answered the genetic testing in hospital was important and necessary for the diagnosis of infectious diseases and infection control was 92.5% and 89.6%, respectively. Of the respondents, 89.1% answered that the genetic testing in hospital was useful for rapid detection of the difficult-to-culture pathogens. A percentage of respondents who answered that it is useful for detection of drug-resistant or virulence genes and comprehensive detection of pathogens was 84.1% and 60.2%, respectively. The percentage was significantly higher in comparison with 1 st surveillance (78.4% and 50.4% in 1 st survey, respectively). A percentage of respondents who performed the genetic testing for infectious disease in hospital and outsourced was 36.3% and 33.8%, respectively. Of the respondents, 17.9% answered to implement the fully automated platform was 17.9%, and the percentage was significantly higher in comparison with 1 st surveillance (7.4% in 1 st surveillance). Of the respondents, 7.0% answered to implement multiplex panel. Of them, 57.1% answered to perform it in all medical departments, 35.7% answered to perform only when requested from physician, and 7.1% answered to perform in limited medical departments. This questionnaire survey revealed that the most physicians recognized the importance and necessity of genetic testing for infectious diseases. In addition, the fully automated platforms had been implemented into the large hospitals in Japan. On the other hand, their operation varied by hospital. Therefore, further investi-gation is needed to clear an optimal operation of fully automated platforms in Japan.