Author: patty.mcadams@duke.edu

Two ARLG PI-Initiated, Laboratory-Based Trials Reached Database Lock

Posted on by patty.mcadams@duke.edu
ARLG Principal Investigators Ritu Banerjee, MD, PhD of Vanderbilt University and Audrey Schuetz, MD, MPH, D (ABMM) of Mayo Clinic have successfully led the RAPIDS-GN and DISK trials, respectively, to completion.

The primary objective of RAPIDS-GN is to evaluate the impact of rapid identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) on the time to first antibiotic modification in the first 72 hours after randomization. RAPIDS-GN enrolled 500 subjects in two sites over 1 year. Database lock occurred in March 2019. Dr. Banerjee expects to present the preliminary results at the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Microbe meeting in June 2019.

The primary objective of the DISK trial is to evaluate the performance of a rapid disk diffusion test performed using positive blood culture broth (BCB) as the inoculum, read at 16-18 hours of incubation. The project enrolled 500 subjects across five sites over 7 months. Database lock occurred in February 2019. Dr. Schuetz expects to present preliminary results at the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) meeting in June 2019.

Congratulations to both ARLG PIs and study sites on this accomplishment. We are looking forward to the results for answering these important questions.

Clinical Case Challenge on Diagnostics and AMR

Posted on by patty.mcadams@duke.edu

We call on you to support the “Clinical Case Challenge” – an international challenge highlighting the value of in vitro diagnostics in the fight against AMR.

This challenge invites medical students, trainees, physicians and others worldwide to submit their case studies on this important healthcare topic, thereby increasing open access cases for medical education.

Many medical schools have gaps in clinical diagnostics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) content. A challenge is proposed to solicit clinical diagnostic and AMR clinical cases through a global call for participation. Clinical diagnostics are tests to aid clinical management and/or guide treatment decisions. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage medical students, trainees, physicians, and others to collect or write clinical cases that could be used in medical education and shared online. The challenge has two types of clinical cases: original cases written specifically for the contest and not published before; adapted cases that have been published elsewhere and tailored for medical education use.

Guidelines for submissions are described below. The final deadline for cases is May 1st, 2018.

bioMérieux is proud to be the sole sponsor of this initiative developed by the International Diagnostics Center and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the main organizer of this contest. Send your clinical case!

Details: http://www.seshglobal.org/Clinical-Case-Challenge

Questions: Contact the challenge coordinator at AMRcasechallenge@gmail.com

IDSA Honors 105 Distinguished Physicians, Scientists with FIDSA

Posted on by patty.mcadams@duke.edu

IDSA congratulates the distinguished physicians and scientists from the United States and around the world who were elected this year to be Fellows of IDSA.

Fellowship in IDSA honors those who have achieved professional excellence and provided significant service to the profession. “There has never been a more critical nor more exciting time for the field of infectious diseases. From an emerging outbreak of Ebola in the Congo to domestic outbreaks of measles to working tirelessly to solve the mystery of the patients before them, infectious diseases doctors are on the front lines of research and clinical care, keeping us safe from dangerous illness,” said IDSA President Paul Auwaerter, MD, MBA, FIDSA. “The individuals receiving the FIDSA designation have demonstrated that they are true leaders—in their institutions, their communities, and in the field of infectious diseases.”

Check out the individuals who were honored as Fellows of IDSA.