Infectious Diseases

In recent years, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has sprung to the forefront of many medical and political conversations, with the warning that the prevalence of resistant pathogens could lead to a public health crisis. Ranked a top 10 global public health threat by the World Health Organization, it is estimated that 1.27 million deaths occurred in a single year attributable to AMR.

Osteomyelitis – infection of the bone, and septic arthritis – joint infection, are serious medical conditions that can significantly impact a patient's quality of life. Bone and joint infections, often referred to as (BJIs), are notoriously difficult to treat and successful therapy requires organism-specific antimicrobial therapy at high doses for a prolonged duration.1 Diagnostics can support the identification and management of BJIs, while helping slow the progression of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Frederick Novy had an extensive career pioneering the development of microbiology as an academic discipline and field of research, and he assisted in setting the framework for modern medical science. Before his time, microbiology was focused on disease prevention, but F.Novy made extensive strides to further the understanding of microbes at their deepest levels. Through research, discipline, and teaching, he persuaded others do to the same. “F.Novy was among the last survivors of that eager group of young American biologists and hygienists who journeyed to Europe in the 1880s to work in the laboratories of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch and learn the fundamentals of the new science of bacteriology at first hand,” noted biographer Esmond R. Long.

Fast, effective diagnostics are crucial in the identification of individuals infected with monkeypox (MPXV); a potentially fatal virus previously known as monkeypox. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) in August 2024, just two years after a similar occurrence in 2022. Many top health officials have called for a coordinated international response to curb the spread and save lives. Drawing on this experience, University of Alabama at Birmingham Professor and epidemiologist David O. Freedman, contributes insights into managing outbreaks in a post-pandemic world.

With cases increasing at an alarming rate over the past two decades, the dengue virus (DENV) has remained a significant threat to global public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that dengue cases skyrocketed from 500,000 to 5.2 million from 2000-2019, and recent reports indicate that cases are on the rise again. As of early 2024, dengue has been classified as a Grade 3 emergency by the WHO, demanding the highest-level response. Although many dengue cases are mild, severe dengue is considered a medical emergency that necessitates intervention as soon as possible. As dengue cases continue to increase, an integrated approach that includes vector control, prevention, and early and accurate diagnosis is critical for mitigation.