iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Alfred Luk

AST IDCOP @ast-idcop.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Representing some of our 920 IDCOP members. Congratulations to both our incoming and past leadership! #AST2026Boston #TxID

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IDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Join us next Tues. Feb. 10 at 11am ET for a webinar on practical, evidence-based approaches to fungal diagnostic testing. Presented by Julie M. Steinbrink, MD, MHS, of Duke University and Martin Hönigl, MD, of Medical University of Graz, Austria. Register: bit.ly/3OiX1Ez

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

For the awake and dedicated. 7am session - top papers in transplant ID. #TxID #WTC2025

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

AST IDCOP @ast-idcop.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Dr. Robert (Bob) Rubin Transplant ID Award Recipient for 2025 is the amazing @kottonnelson.bsky.social !!! #TxID #MedEd @astinfo.bsky.social

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Joanna Schaenman, MD, PhD @jschaenmanmd.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Packed house at talk on #MDR challenging cases at #WTC2025 - clearly a growing concern in #TxID #IDSky discussion of ceftaz avi plus aztreonam v cefidericol for CRE @ast-idcop.bsky.social @txidfellows.bsky.social @astinfo.bsky.social @ttsorg.bsky.social

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Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Outcomes of Invasive Aspergillosis in Liver Transplant Recipients From an Institution Using Targeted Antifungal Prophylaxis and an Antifungal Stewardship Program Duke TxID fellow Brennan Collis and co from Melbourne IA was uncommon, mortality low in LiTx onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Outcomes of Invasive Aspergillosis in Liver Transplant Recipients From an Institution Using Targeted Antifungal Prophylaxis and an Antifungal Stewardship Program

Background Recent evidence suggests liver transplant recipients (LiTRs) with invasive aspergillosis (IA) have lower rates of dissemination and mortality compared to historical data. However, contemp...

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Melissa Johnson @idpharmacist.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

🍄🍄Happy to share the link to free full text version of our new article in press: Current Antifungals and the Developing Pipeline with the fantastic @moorewjustin.bsky.social. #IDSky #PharmSky Thank you to the editors @drluiso.bsky.social @alukmd.bsky.social & Dr. Helen Boucher for the opportunity.

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Nico Barros @nicobarrosid.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Update on the Clinical Practice Guidelines for treatment of Histoplasmosis. Thank you to all the authors @fungaldoc.bsky.social @germhuntermd.bsky.social @jobadd.bsky.social @iddoc4kids.bsky.social Nathan Bahr www.idsociety.org/practice-gui...

idsociety.org

Histoplasmosis (2025)

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Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

New upcoming seminar from TTS to address a growing concern in the immunocompromised community: Measles tts.org/116-tts/educ...

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Was an honor to work with @drluiso.bsky.social and all the amazing authors who contributed to this issue!

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

What’s at stake with proposed health research funding cuts? Good explainer by Lizzy Knippler, Community Engagement Coordinator at the Duke CFAR. Please share these graphics widely!

SCIENCE IN PERIL

Research funding at risk

UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH COSTS

Research requires funding for both direct costs (like lab supplies) and Facilities & Administrative (F&A) costs.

F&A covers essential expenses that support research but aren't tied to a single project, such as...

IT and cybersecurity for data protection

Laboratory space and utilities

Administrative support for grants and operations

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF F&A COST REIMBURSEMENT RATES ARE CUT?

Research institutions will lose millions of dollars to do critical research

THE IMPACTS WOULD BE DEVASTATING.

Fewer clinical trials, delaying new treatments

Slowed scientific discovery and innovation

Weakened local economies and research-driven industries

Job cuts and fewer opportunities to train future leaders

Previous F&A cost reimbursement rates varied by institution. Rates averaged around 28%, but some organizations had negotiated rates over 60%.

Costs vary widely, with rates set based on factors like institution size, location, and rent or utility costs.

HOW IS RESEARCH AT RISK?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a policy change that limits F&A cost funding to 15% for both new and existing grants.

The policy drastically cuts essential federal support for biomedical research.

A group of universities and states filed a lawsuit claiming the funding cuts are illegal.

A federal judge temporarily paused the funding cuts, but F&A costs remain at risk.

Scientists and the public are speaking out to share how important it is to maintain funding for research and innovation.

RESEARCH SAVES LIVES.

NOW, WE MUST SAVE RESEARCH

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

The link doesn’t seem to be working?

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

I am deeply disappointed by the subdued response of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (@idsainfo.bsky.social) to the dismantling of public health structures, both in the US & globally Here's what I wrote in the closed listserv (response: 🦗) in hopes of stimulating discussion here #IDSky

Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, the administration continues to charge ahead, running roughshod over norms, laws, and the dignity of and most basic protections for the people most vulnerable to infections. Many of the changes are summarized here, up to date as of Feb 4. Who will speak up, or better still, ACT UP for these individuals?

The National Science Foundation has reportedly shared with program officers a list of forbidden "DEI"-related words that will result in grants being flagged. These include routinely used terms like "female", "biased", "systemic", "inclusion" and "exclusion" along with other words that specifically target vulnerable populations. While few clinical researchers rely on NSF grants, it can be reasonably expected that similar censorship with grants from NIH, CDC, etc is inevitable.
USAID funding remains frozen, and in fact there are reports of efforts underway to eliminate the entire agency. The effects have already been devastating for programs dedicated to controlling TB, malaria, and HIV, among others. Despite claims that these would be exempt, distribution of antiretrovirals remains frozen.
The Senate Finance committee advanced RFK Jr for confirmation as HHS Secretary. Kennedy's disdain for evidence-based medicine is no secret. He is a conspiracy theorist who engages in dangerous race-based pseudoscience. The IDSA has fallen short of other professional societies (e.g. the American Public Health Association, which represents 25,000 public health professionals) in calling for the outright rejection of RFK Jr's nomination.
The CDC and NIH remain muzzled, unable to communicate with interstate or international agencies or the public. They have been instructed to recall submitted or accepted manuscripts to scrub objectionable language. They remain barred from traveling until at least the end of April. How will these actions affect our ability to detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks?

Meanwhile, our members are experiencing significant moral injury, and some have expressed levels of morale that rival the nadirs felt during the worst of COVID19. Every day it is a new insult, the cumulative effect being the disassembly of public health protections and further marginalization of the most vulnerable in society.

Reticence to call attention to ourselves, potentially putting our work in the administration's cross hairs, is entirely understandable. After all, we don't want to imperil existing and ongoing advocacy efforts, including those related to bolstering the ID workforce. A sober analysis would concede that the likelihood of any potential actions moving the needle on any of these issues is low. I would argue, however, that standing up for what is right is the most important thing we can do to reinforce our commitment to social justice and to our members and the patients in our care.

What we can do and how we can do it is up for debate; some bold ideas have already been presented in the IDea exchange forum and I welcome further input from colleagues. What is certain is that as rank-and-file individuals, our voices can easily be dismissed, but as a trusted, bipartisan professional organization that represents >13,000 infectious diseases experts, we cannot be ignored, and we must not allow ourselves to cower in silence. The reality is that things are going to get worse, and standing up to the assault on public health will only get more difficult as the administration becomes further emboldened and the actions set in motion gather steam.

In the words of John Lewis, "If not us, then who? If not now, then when?"

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Would global warming bring an increase of invertebrate-associated cutaneous invasive fungal infections? Kontoyiannis & Casadevall journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Camille Nelson Kotton @kottonnelson.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

The ACIP 2025 vaccine schedule for adults by medical condition (as well as age) is now available - with some great updates www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp...

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Evaluation of Viracor Fungal Plus PCR Profile I @MSKCC "In our cohort, PCR targeting Mucorales and Nocardia can improve the early detection of invasive pulmonary infection, whereas Aspergillus PCR has a low added value" @fungalspore.bsky.social @ebabady.bsky.social journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Figure 2. Patients with proven or probable invasive pulmonary Aspergillus by diagnosis methods.

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Timothy Li @drtimothyli.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Summary of new antibiotic agents for the treatment of MDR Gram negative bacterial infections doi.org/10.1016/S014... #IDSky

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Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

We know that in ART-naive patients with Cryptococcal meningitis, ART initiation should be delayed, but what about those already on ART? In this retrospective analysis, higher mortality observed w recent ART (<2 wks), and with ART continuation vs interruption academic.oup.com/cid/advance-...

Mortality risk according to antiretroviral therapy (ART) status at the time of presentation with cryptococcal meningitis. The dynamic relationship between time on ART at cryptococcal meningitis presentation and mortality risk in the combined Ambisome Therapy Induction Optimisation (AMBITION) and Antifungal Combinations for Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis in Africa (ACTA) cohort was determined using univariable logistic regression models with days on ART as the single predictor (using restricted cubic splines with 3 knots) and mortality as the outcome for (A) 2-week and (B) 10-week mortality, restricted to participants on ART for up to 6 months. The gray shading represents 95% confidence intervals. Mortality risk in those on ART for more than 6 months and those not on ART at the time of cryptococcal meningitis diagnosis are shown for comparison, with error bars representing 95% confidence intervals, and the dotted line indicating the mortality risk estimate in those not on ART.

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Infectious Diseases Fellowship at Indiana University @iuidfellowship.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

#idboardreview Pt pricked his thumb w/ wood splinter. 1 wk later, painless papule at injury site & over next weeks, tender lymphangitis developed. No improvement w/oral cephalexin or amox-clavulanate. No fever nor systemic sx, no travel/water exposure #IDSky #idmeded #meded #dermsky

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Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Evaluation of two MALDI-TOF MS systems and extraction methods for identification of filamentous fungi recovered from clinical specimens Eric Ransom, Carey-Ann Burnham and colleagues journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Pie charts of whether mold isolates were represented in Bruker and VITEK databases, respectively

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

NEJM.org @nejm.org · 03/01/2025

From March through October 2024, a total of 46 human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infections were identified in the United States, with 20 linked to poultry exposure and 25 to dairy cow exposure. Read the full article: nej.md/3VU4R8I  #MedSky #IDSky

nej.md

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infections in Humans | NEJM

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses have caused widespread infections in dairy cows and poultry in the United States, with sporadic human cases. We describe characteristics of human A...

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

Need Norovirus? I know a guy…

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

TransplantID.Net - American Society of Transplantation @transplantidnet.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

We want your opinions on transplantid.net — whether you've heard of it or not‼️ Plus, share your go-to resources for #TxID education. 🙏Pls take our quick anonymous survey (<10 min)🙏 Approved by @astinfo.bsky.social ID COP & @einsteinmededu.bsky.social IRB. Survey: forms.gle/Lob4vpbgAJXA...

transplantid.net

Full Library – TransplantID

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Michael G. Ison, MD MS @michaelisonmd.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

It was an honor to write this contextualizing editorial with @drjeannem.bsky.social for the @nejm.bsky.social along with 2 important reports of recent human cases of influenza A(H5N1). #H5N1 #IDSky www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.... www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.... www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.... 🧵1/3

nejm.org

The Emerging Threat of H5N1 to Human Health | NEJM

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) emerged in 1997.1 Since then, it has spread globally by migratory birds, resulting in infections in animals on every continent. HPAI A(H5N1) clade 2...

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Andrew Karaba @akaraba.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Excited to share our article on RSV vaccine responses in immunocompromised patients published today in @jama.com. Many thanks to @williamwerbel.bsky.social and other co-authors for their hard work and support. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam.... #IDsky #TxID.

jamanetwork.com

Antibody Response to RSV Vaccination in Immunocompromised Persons

This prospective study investigates antibody response following respiratory syncytial virus vaccination in immunocompromised individuals.

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Joseph Marcus @josephmarcusid.medsky.social · 31/12/2024

In today’s MMWR, largest blastomycosis outbreak in 🇺🇸: -162 cases in a single paper mill in Michigan (20% of all employees) -Primarily 🫁 symptoms -18 (12%) 🏥, 1 death -0 environmental samples of mill were PCR pos for blasto #IDSky www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...

cdc.gov

Outbreak of Blastomycosis Among Paper Mill Workers...

This report describes an outbreak of blastomycosis among workers at a paper mill in Michigan.

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Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Mapping the Geographic Distribution of Dimorphic Mycoses Using a US Commercial Insurance Database @julioczuniga1.bsky.social @fungaldoc.bsky.social academic.oup.com/ofid/advance... More data to show that the geographic range of dimorphic fungal infections is much wider than taught in med school

Distribution of cases of blastomycosis in A) Marketscan data, B) Medicare data, and C) historical maps

Distribution of cases of hisoplasmosis in A) Marketscan data, B) Medicare data, and C) historical maps

Distribution of cases of coccidioidomycosis in A) Marketscan data, B) Medicare data, and C) historical maps

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Joseph Sassine @josephsassinemd.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Out now in @thetxidjournal.bsky.social! T-SPOT.TB is more likely to produce actionable results than QFT-TB in patients with cancer being screened for latent TB. #TxID #IDSky onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

So interesting how they’re way ahead in so many ways as a society and yet NNRTIs (but makes sense from a cost perspective).

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Camille Nelson Kotton @kottonnelson.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Thanks, Terese. Always good to remember this diagnosis - can be life-saving. Kudos to @cesargberto.bsky.social for astutely thinking of it.

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

That’s some serious light work!

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Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

How do infections of LVADs differ from those of CIEDs? @s-chesdachai.bsky.social, Larry Baddour, & Daniel DeSimone in @cidjournal.bsky.social Also, risk of CIED infection in 1st 6 months post implantation, whereas risk of LVAD infection doesn't wane with time academic.oup.com/cid/advance-...

Screenshot of a table comparing LVAD infections to CIED infections

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Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Happy holidays! Got you something! #IDSky starter packs 1 go.bsky.app/LnAQjdq 2 go.bsky.app/JNfSvQT 3 go.bsky.app/FeogT7o 4 go.bsky.app/D1zxj4E 5 go.bsky.app/NgGSPeF 6 go.bsky.app/22VBL8z 7 go.bsky.app/Bf7denw 8 go.bsky.app/jnWLx1 9 go.bsky.app/9fQaSBa 10 go.bsky.app/5WBmsNq 11 go.bsky.app/DPPcD7H

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FungalDoc AKA Andrej Spec @fungaldoc.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

When you get called by THE @kottonnelson.bsky.social to help discuss, you don't say "yes." You say, "Yes, please!" And you put some enthusiasm into it.

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Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Time to Staphylococcus aureus blood culture positivity is a useful marker for infective endocarditis This retrospective cohort study of >1700 cases of SAB suggests that if TTP > 13 hrs, the patient is unlikely to have endocarditis (NPV 96%, 95%CI 95-97) academic.oup.com/cid/advance-... #IDSky

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