KOL Spotlight Interviews is a segment where we interview experts from various fields on their expertise and insights that help shape the diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries. This month, we had the pleasure of speaking to Dr. Balazs Halmos, Professor of Medicine, Chief, Thoracic/Head & Neck Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In this interview, Dr. Halmos shared his experience as an oncologist during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with hematological malignancies, or blood cancers.
Infectious Disease
10 Articles
Bartonellosis is an infectious disease caused by Bartonella species and is implicated in causing many emerging and re-emerging infections globally. While there are multiple species, the three most common Bartonella species (and the infections they cause) are: Bartonella henselae (Cat Scratch Disease), Bartonella quintana (Trench fever), and Bartonella bacilliformis (Oroya fever).
Dengue fever has no specific treatment, but supportive care can help manage the symptoms. Only one vaccine, Dengvaxia® from Sanofi, has been approved by the FDA to prevent severe disease. It is approved for children aged 9 to 16 who live in an endemic area and have previously been infected with DENV as confirmed by a laboratory serological assay.
The number of Powassan virus (POWV) reported cases is low compared to other tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease. However, the prevalence of POWV infection is likely underestimated because testing capabilities are limited. There are no FDA-cleared assays and only a few commercially available assays. There is a need to increase the awareness of POWV infection to include this testing in clinical routine labs.
As the Delta variant spreads across the world, many vaccinated individuals are worried about the possibility of a breakthrough infection. The term “breakthrough infection” refers to the development of a COVID-19 infection despite an individual being vaccinated against the virus. With many Americans still reluctant to vaccination, and with mask mandates lifted in most states, the highly contagious Delta virus has contributed to spikes in COVID-19 cases across the nation this summer ’21.
Dermatophyte infections are difficult to diagnose clinically as they can resemble other skin disorders. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, dermatophyte infections can lead to permanent damage of the hair, skin, and nails. Molecular diagnostic testing of fungal infections allows for the accurate detection of dermatophytes that might be difficult to grow in culture, or in cases where a dermatophyte infection has already been treated, and allows for species-specific identification.
Invasive Aspergillosis (IA) is an infection caused by Aspergillus. People with weakened immune systems or lung diseases are at a higher risk of developing IA. It is one of the most commonly under-detected diagnoses in ICU patients. Because symptoms are not specific, it is important to know which diagnostic tests can aid in early detection and management of IA.
Dr. Ruth Brignall completed a PhD in immunology and a post-doc in cancer biology. She joined Oxford Immunotec, first as a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) and more recently as a Global Medical Expert. Below, we will learn more about her experiences and insights in tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics.
Less than a year after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, the authorization of several novel COVID-19 vaccines has created hope for a healthier future. Recent studies have demonstrated that both humoral and cellular immunity play a role in protection from COVID-19. Additionally, the development of novel COVID-19 vaccines requires a look at the immune response in order to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine at preventing infection.
SARS-CoV-2, commonly known as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses an unprecedented public health crisis. While scientists and clinicians worldwide are still working to understand the virus, recent studies show possible onset of autoimmune diseases following COVID-19 infection.