Automation in Microbiology to Reduce Turnaround Time for Patients Better Outcome: Narrative Review

Abstract

Automation has revolutionized and changed clinical and diagnostic microbiology by improving laboratory reporting, reducing turnaround time, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and minimizing human error. Modern microbiology laboratories has increasingly employed automated systems for specimen processing and culturing, microbial and organism identification. Automated blood cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), molecular diagnostics and gene detection has become easier and rapid. Technologies such as total laboratory automation (TLA), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and artificial intelligence (AI) have transformed traditional workflows. Despite these advances challenges includes high implementation costs, infrastructure requirements. Workforce training remain significant barriers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This narrative review discusses the evolution, applications, advantages, limitations and future perspectives of automation in microbiology.