The Usefulness and Limitations of Radiologic Findings for Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases: A Call for Antimicrobial Stewardship.

ABSTRACT: Radiological evaluation is pivotal in diagnosing infectious diseases, but its inherent limitations can lead to diagnostic uncertainty and inappropriate antibiotic use, exacerbating the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This review examines the utility and constraints of imaging studies-computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasonography (US)-in common infectious diseases, including pneumonia, acute pyelonephritis (APN), infectious colitis, and skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). For pneumonia, CT and lung US offer higher sensitivity than chest X-rays, but distinguishing between bacterial and viral pathogens remains challenging. In APN, contrast-enhanced CT is the standard, but routine imaging is not recommended for uncomplicated cases. CT f

SUBMITTER: Gang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12802030 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature