News roundup: Top scientific findings presented at the 32nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
Catch up on some of the most exciting advancements in clinical microbiology and infectious disease presented at ECCMID 2022
26 Apr 2022The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) hosted the 32nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases on 23–26 April 2022 as a hybrid event, both online and on-site in Lisbon, Portugal.
This year’s ECCMID has brought together scientists from around the world to discuss their latest findings and research outputs in the fields of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference has really brought to light the staggering efforts of the scientific community to combat the novel virus and demonstrates how far scientific knowledge has progressed in this area over the past two years.
Beyond COVID-19, scientists at the congress presented research findings in other infectious diseases that continue to challenge global health, including further respiratory viruses, tuberculosis, and other human pathogens.
Here, we’ve pulled together a selection of just some of the top findings presented at ECCMID 2022. Explore below to learn more:
- Actiphage TB blood test finds live Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the blood of people with incipient TB
A clinical trial has shown promise for a new tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic tool in risk stratification for those with latent TB - Even partially vaccinated individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 may be at lower risk of ICU admission and death than unvaccinated patients
A study in over 20,000 Canadian adults hospitalized with COVID-19 finds vaccination with at least one dose is linked with a significantly lower risk of ICU admission and death - Most women who catch COVID-19 when pregnant pass antibodies to their unborn babies
Antibodies against COVID-19 were found in the blood of 85% of newborn babies whose mothers tested positive for IgG antibodies against COVID-19 while pregnant - Pregnant women with COVID-19 face a greater risk of hospitalization and ICU admission, strengthening case for vaccination
Findings suggest women with COVID-19 during pregnancy are five times more likely to be hospitalized, and six times as likely to require treatment in intensive care - US study in over 850,000 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 underscores need for improvement in therapeutic approaches for critically ill
The report provides real-world treatment and outcome data for 850,000 US adults hospitalized with COVID-19 over 20 months of the pandemic - A third of healthcare workers took sick leave after COVID-19 vaccination, German study finds
An electronic questionnaire was used to gather information about sick leave and side effects from the 1,797 healthcare workers - US study suggests SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may be accelerating antimicrobial resistance
Analysis of antimicrobial resistance in 271 US hospitals finds higher rates of antibiotic-resistant infections in both COVID-19 patients and SARS-COV-2 negative patients admitted during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic - Cytokine signature that allows COVID-19 patients with worst prognosis to be spotted early is identified by Italian researchers
The researchers were able to build a decision tree to predict COVID-19 patients at risk of a poor prognosis - High levels of respiratory pathogens present in the air of nurseries, schools, nursing homes, and other indoor settings during winter, Belgian study finds
Nursery children were found to be exposed to the greatest variety of pathogens and the highest concentrations compared to other groups investigated - Preliminary study finds organic vegetables contaminated with a wide range of disease-causing microbes
Study suggests that disease-causing amoebas that live on organic leafy vegetables can shelter human pathogens like Pseudomonas, Salmonella, and Helicobacter - Third day in hospital identified as a ‘tipping point’ in severity of COVID-19 pneumonia
The researchers found that a blood test could be used to identify patients most likely to become severely ill before they deteriorate