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Alex Tatara, MD PhD

@amtatara.bsky.social
1.9K followers 175 following 38 posts

Physician scientist engaged in biomaterials, immunoengineering, and device-related infection. Assistant prof at UTSW.

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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Can we exploit catheter synthesis parameters to modulate Candida phenotype? We found that silicone with higher crosslinking density resulted in decreased adherence, proliferation, and biofilm production across 3 Candida species: www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...
microbiologyresearch.org
Catheter mechanoprophylaxis against Candida species
Candida species infection of vascular and urinary catheters is a growing clinical concern. By understanding how biomaterial physicochemical surface properties affect fungal behaviour, catheters could ...
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Had a wonderful time speaking with the 90+ high schoolers about that came to UTSW BME STARS day! Everyone enjoyed learning about osteomyelitis and orthopedic tissue engineering. Thank you to UTSW BME for hosting! @utswinfdis.bsky.social
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Reposted by Alex Tatara, MD PhD
Clinical Infectious Diseases @cidjournal.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Patient-reported perceptions, experiences and preferences around intravenous and oral antibiotics for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a descriptive qualitative study. ✅ Just Accepted #IDSky 🔗 bit.ly/3Iil2JB
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Joseph Marcus @josephmarcusid.medsky.social · 10/08/2025
My team’s new article is out! For male basic trainees who had ICD-10 code for UTI or dysuria: ~50% had a sexual history documented ~70% had a gc/ct test ordered, -Ultimate diagnosis of gc/ct >>> uti -Few had any STI testing in 3 years following dysuria #IDSky academic.oup.com/milmed/advan...
academic.oup.com
Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Symptomatic Male Military Trainees
AbstractIntroduction. A high burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) exists among trainees entering United States Air Force Basic Military Trainin
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id-journal.bsky.social @id-journal.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Implanted devices risk biofilm infections. Biomaterial design affects infection risk, strength, and drug release. This review aids infectious disease clinicians in understanding biomaterials. 🦠💉 #idsky
academic.oup.com
Implant Infectious Diseases: An Introduction to Biomaterials for ID Physicians
AbstractImplanted biomedical devices are becoming ubiquitous in the practice of medicine but are at risk for biofilm-related infection. The biomaterial composition of these devices can significantly affect their risk for infection. Biomaterials design is complex with compositional choices leading to different properties, including mechanical strength, biodegradation rate, and ability to locally release therapeutics. In this review, we introduce the field of “Implant Infectious Diseases,” review practical biomaterial fundamentals for the infectious disease clinician, and apply these principles to case vignettes. This review serves as a primer for a broad infectious disease audience to better understand the role of biomaterials in medical devices and as therapeutics.
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
Many thanks for highlighting our work and giving us the opportunity to talk about the exciting intersection between host, microbe, and biomaterial!
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id-journal.bsky.social @id-journal.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
📊 Over 50% of LTCF residents in EU/EEA have HAIs. RTIs & UTIs make up nearly 50% of these infections. #idsky
thelancet.com
[Articles] Incidence of health-care-associated infections in long-term care facilities in nine European countries: a 12-month, prospective, longitudinal cohort study
This study shows the high incidence of HAIs among LTCF residents in EU or EEA countries, with more than one in two residents experiencing at least one HAI, and with RTIs and UTIs accounting for almost half of all observed HAIs.
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Many thanks to Jay Vyas for writing such an insightful commentary to our article in Clinical Infectious Diseases- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40470539/.
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UTSW Infectious Diseases @utswinfdis.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Congrats to our fantastic ID fellow (Dr. Hannah Blanchard) and ID Faculty (Dr. Hayden Andrews, Dr. Netanya Utay) on their timely publication in @cidjournal.bsky.social on Measles immunity at our HIV clinic!! 👏 academic.oup.com/cid/advance-... @bradcutrellmd.bsky.social @netanyautay.bsky.social
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Reposted by Alex Tatara, MD PhD
Erin McCreary, PharmD @erinmccreary.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
@steventong.bsky.social presents the results of the PSSA domain of the SNAP 🫰 trial - the worlds largest trial of staph aureus bacteremia - at #ESCMID2025 fluclox resulted in higher mortality and more AKI compared to penicillin for PSSA
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Steven Tong @steventong.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
We’ve got something in review that addresses this question (as much as observational data can). Basically we think all ASPs the same compared to cefazolin
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Rhys Davies @quinnfeld.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Dr Steven Tong presents data on Penicillin vs (Flu)Cloxacillin for penicillin sensitive S.aureus. 1. Penicillin is non-inferior. 2. Rate of AKI roughly half in Penicillin group. 3. More pts in Penicillin group changed Rx - why? #ESCMIDGlobal
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Angela Huttner @angelahuttner.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
#ESCMIDGlobal starts soon 🤓 There's a new latebreaker session created to give 2-3 'big' trials their due: 'Trial Run', Sat 16:15 2 #SNAP trials + CloCeBa trial will be discussed in real detail Moderators @vancefowler.bsky.social +Julia Bielicki. @gurujosh.bsky.social @steventong.bsky.social #IDSky
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JAMA @jama.com · 07/04/2025
Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia has a case fatality rate of 15% to 30% and causes 300 000 deaths per year worldwide. This Review discusses management of S aureus bacteremia. ja.ma/3RF8b50
ja.ma
Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Review
This narrative review summarizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
We reviewed the latest in ID/Ortho collaborative models- institutional investment is important! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @utswinfdis.bsky.social
sciencedirect.com
Models of Musculoskeletal Infection Care: The Importance of Multidisciplinary Collaboration
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Come join us! Hiring a postdoc to work on immunotherapy to prevent and treat orthopaedic infection. I'll be at SFB2015 in Chicago if you want to chat about life in Dallas at our fabulous program. lnkd.in/evpKR5KE lnkd.in/e7K2PMgh
lnkd.in
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
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Reposted by Alex Tatara, MD PhD
id-journal.bsky.social @id-journal.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
🔍 Study on 47 kids with musculoskeletal infections vs. 48 Lyme & 49 inflammatory arthritis. A 3-cytokine panel (IL-6, IL-17A, CSF-1) had AUC 0.90, outperforming 5 common biomarkers (P < .05). #idsky
academic.oup.com
Utility of Cytokine Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Pediatric Pyogenic Musculoskeletal Infections
Pyogenic musculoskeletal infections, such as septic arthritis and osteomyelitis, require prompt recognition and treatment but can be challenging to distinguish from Lyme or inflammatory arthritis. Our goal was to identify cytokine biomarkers of musculoskeletal infections.MethodsUsing 2 multicenter prospective cohorts of children undergoing emergency department evaluation for musculoskeletal infection, we selected children ≤21 years of age with a musculoskeletal infection (cases) matched by age and sex to children with Lyme and inflammatory arthritis (controls). We performed a 45-cytokine/chemokine panel using the Olink proximity extension assay platform and used receiver operator curve analysis to evaluate the discriminative ability of each cytokine. Using forward stepwise logistic regression, we derived a 3-cytokine panel and compared the accuracy with 5 commonly available plasma biomarkers.ResultsWe included 47 children with musculoskeletal infection, 48 with Lyme arthritis, and 49 with inflammatory arthritis. Interleukin-6 had the highest accuracy for musculoskeletal infection (area under the curve [AUC], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77–0.91). A 3-cytokine biosignature panel (interleukin-6, interleukin-17A, and colony stimulating factor–1) had the highest overall accuracy (AUC, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84–0.96) and performed better than 5 common plasma biomarkers (white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and procalcitonin; P < .05 for all comparisons).ConclusionsPlasma cytokines can distinguish musculoskeletal infections from Lyme or inflammatory arthritis and may assist initial decision-making for children undergoing evaluation for musculoskeletal infection.
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Josh Davis @gurujosh.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Excited to announce that we randomised our first patient in the @roadmaptrial.bsky.social today! First of thousands, answering important questions in prosthetic joint infection. See roadmaptrial.com for more deets. #IDSky #PJI #ROADMAP
roadmaptrial.com
Welcome to the ROADMAP Trial – Examining treatments for PJI
Explore our website to learn more about our trial, team, and how you can get involved in shaping the future of PJI treatment.
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Joseph Marcus @josephmarcusid.medsky.social · 31/01/2025
Post-hoc analysis of 📷 📷 study in MSSA/MRSA bacteremia: Persistent fever = indicator for complicated infection Fever on Day 4️⃣: aOR (3.7 (95% CI: 1.58-8.67)) mortality Fever on Day 7️⃣: aOR: (8.78 (95% CI: 2.78-27.7) 🚫 assn between ⬆️CRP/WBC and mortality #IDSky academic.oup.com/ofid/advance...
academic.oup.com
Association of daily body temperature, white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein with mortality and persistent bacteremia in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a post-hoc analysis of...
AbstractIntroduction. Classification of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) as complicated versus uncomplicated is based on a combination
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IDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
In OFID, Seongman Bae and colleagues elucidate risk factors associated with 30-day infection-attributable mortality in a large cohort of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB).
buff.ly
Risk Factors for Infection-Attributable Mortality in Patients With Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Competing Risk Analysis
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Takahiro Matsuo (Taka), MD @takamatsuo-id.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
【Mayo Clinic CME Orthopedic Infectious Diseases 2025】 👉Comprehensive #OrthoID learning course is coming soon! 👉Great learning opportunity for #IDFellow #IMResident #OrthoResident! ce.mayo.edu/orthopedic-s... #IDMedEd #IDFellow #OrthoID #MayoClinicINFD #MSIS #EBJIS
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Waggoner Lab @labwaggoner.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
#NIH funding is vital and the returns are superb, as noted by critical translational breakthroughs relevant to chronic fatigue, Parkinson's, prior diseases, cataracts, and hearing loss made with NIH funding in 2024 www.nih.gov/news-events/...
nih.gov
2024 NIH Research Highlights - Promising Medical Findings
NIH findings with potential for enhancing human health include insights into the mechanisms of ME/CFS, a skin test to detect Parkinson’s disease and related disorders, and a promising target for catar...
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Josh Davis @gurujosh.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
It's that time of year again. Here are my top 10 ID papers of 2024 1. My opinion 2. Practice changing, paradigm-shifting or dogma challenging 3. Not COVID 4. Alphabetical order by first author 5. CoI for 4 and 5 (I am an author) Summary slide here, details in thread #IDSky #Top10IDpapers
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
Reminder that there’s a whole Vulfpeck Xmas album in the style of Guaraldi: m.youtube.com/watch?v=mMjo...
m.youtube.com
A Very Vulfy Christmas (full album)
YouTube video by Woody Goss
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ᐯIᑕTOᖇ ᑎIᘔET, ᗰᗪ @nizet.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Led by Chih-Ming Tsai + Irshad Hasham, a fascinating new JCI paper from the George Liu Lab at UCSD Pediatrics shows that in mice who have previous Staphylococcus aureus (SA) exposure, B cells secrete abundant IL-10 when challenged with the SA antigens for a second time (in a vaccine) Thread🧵 1 of 2
scitechdaily.com
Staph Vaccines Keep Failing and Scientists Finally Know Why
Researchers at UC San Diego have identified a key mechanism by which Staphylococcus aureus evades the immune response, leading to the failure of numerous vaccine trials. The bacteria triggers an overp...
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Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
This is an amazing opportunity for an emerging clinical researcher to catapult their career by leading a multisite clinical trial on therapies for candidemia, while earning a PhD under the supervision of the BEST people #IDSky #MedMycoSky Deadline Dec 17! library.witshealth.co.za/Vacancies/20...
media.tenor.com
a woman talking on a cell phone with the words " opportunities like this " above her
Alt: Moira Rose from Schitt's Creek talking on the phone saying "Ever so infrequently opportunities like this come along"
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Wes Rogers @wesmd.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Pretty much use metronidazole 500mg q12 for all indications aside from CNS at this point
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Michael Fischbach @mfgrp.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Today we report that an engineered skin bacterium, swabbed gently on the head of a mouse, can unleash a potent antibody response against a pathogen. Could lead to topical vaccines that are applied in a cream. @djenetbousbaine.bsky.social led the charge... @natureportfolio.bsky.social 1/55
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Brad Cutrell, MD FIDSA @bradcutrellmd.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Could not be more excited to announce the incoming 2025 UTSW ID Fellows! These talented and passionate docs are amazing and the microbes better watch out! #IDSky #WeareID #Match2025 #HIVSky @utswinfdis.bsky.social @idsainfo.bsky.social
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Maggie Monogue @tazoswift.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
ID PharmD job opening in Dallas, Texas!! join our team 🥰 @bradcutrellmd.bsky.social @ricardolahozmd.bsky.social jobs.utsouthwestern.edu/job/21346700...
jobs.utsouthwestern.edu
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Infectious Diseases
Discover Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Infectious Diseases and other Allied Health jobs in Dallas, TX and apply online today!
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Fantastic training program- outstanding leadership and an amazingly diverse patient population- I highly recommend applying!
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Ellen Kitchell, MD, FIDSA, AAHIVM-S @ellenkitchell.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Buenas from Dallas! On my friend Sidd's suggestion (@hivdocsk.bsky.social), I'm looking forward to drawing strength from my ID/HIV community here! Looking forward to interesting conversations with #IDSky and @HIVsky. Y'all are the best!
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Never a dull moment… #UTSWID
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Ricardo M. La Hoz @ricardolahozmd.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Medicine a humbling experience… A patient with Capnocytophagia Meningoencephalitis @utswinfdis.bsky.social Thanks Colten Creel (2nd year fellow) for the excellent presentation! #IDSky #MedSky
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MGB Division of Infectious Diseases @mgb-id.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
🟣Wednesday Harvard Joint ID Conference 🟣04 December 2024, 8A 🟣Health Equity and ID presented by Aima Ahonkhai, MD MPH 🟣ID and Addiction Medicine presented by Daniel Solomon, MD @danielsolomon.bsky.social @mgb-id-fellows.bsky.social alumni can participate through alumni.massgeneralbrigham.org
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NBA Scores @nbascores.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Final: Thunder 116 Rockets 119
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JAMA @jama.com · 01/12/2024
Both a 2-dose and a 3-dose hepatitis B vaccine with a cytosine phosphoguanine adjuvant showed a superior seroprotection response compared to 3 doses of the conventional HepB-alum vaccine. #WorldAIDSDay ja.ma/3Zch5dD
Figure 3. Seroprotection Response to the Hepatitis B Vaccine by Scheduled Study Weeks
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Brad Spellberg @bradspellberg.bsky.social · 30/11/2024
For my inaugural post, Im proud to announce the publication of our Safer@Home care model. This is going to change how medicine is practiced. No need to admit pts "for IV antibiotics" anymore. Or just for IV diuresis in CHF. Or just for EtOH withdrawal. Etc. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com
Virtual Home Care for Patients With Acute Illness
This cohort study compares outcomes of patients receiving care in an outpatient, virtual, home-based acute care model with outcomes of patients receiving standard hospital care.
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Wonderful resource, will print out to have at my desk!
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Biomaterials friends, does anyone have recommendations for where to get PTFE molds made? I’m looking to make a set for ISO 5833.
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Dallas has Portillos! New venue for UTSW ID journal club…?
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Fantastic! So great to see more GPC data, even if not S aureus. Excited to dig into the paper and share with friends on the wards.
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Febrile @febrilepodcast.com · 18/11/2024
Hi #IDSky! Febrile is a cultured podcast about all things ID. We talk about clinical reasoning, diagnostics, abxs, and other interesting topics! 🦠 We love showcasing trainees and ID clinicians, and we cover both adult+pediatric topics/cases. We're ~4 years old and sponsored by @idsainfo.bsky.social
febrilepodcast.com
febrile – A Cultured Podcast About All Things Infectious Disease
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
If your hospital has a musculoskeletal infection service, what do you call it? I’ve heard OrthoID and Bone&Joint ID (aka BoJo). Haven’t figured out how to make polls on Bluesky…
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Alex Tatara, MD PhD @amtatara.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
Love to see it! Thanks to those for sharing their experiences and OFID for publishing. #OrthoID
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TRAstonDrs @castltrastondrs.medsky.network · 30/10/2024
NIAID releases alternative to BioRender, all illustrations freely available in public domain bioart.niaid.nih.gov
Bio Art
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