eConsult in Infectious Diseases: A Narrative Review

Background: Asynchronous electronic consultation, eConsult, is increasingly applied in infectious diseases (ID) management to improve access to specialty care and reduce unnecessary referrals.We aimed to integrate published studies to provide a comparative perspective and propose future directions for ID eConsult. Methods:To synthesize relevant findings and present a comprehensive overview of ID eConsult, we searched in MEDLINE database and identified 11 studies between 2017-2025 on ID eConsult programs.Structured data were extracted on study characteristics, mode of consultation, and outcomes.Results: Nine studies on outpatient ID eConsult demonstrated faster turnaround times, high rates of avoidance of in-person referrals (24-87%), improved antimicrobial optimization, and high provider satisfaction.Two studies on inpatient ID eConsult reported reductions in mortality, readmission rates, and broad-spectrum antibiotic use. Conclusions:Given its affordability and scalability, the ID eConsult model is particularly advantageous in resource-limited environments.Collectively, ID eConsult may replace traditional telephone or face-to-face consultations, reducing the need for informal curbside discussions.