We published 'negative' research findings! Can MALDI-TOF accurately predict whole genome sequencing-based transmission? Nope. 🥲 We hoped it could (faster, cheaper), but alas, it does not work well! www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

MALDI-TOF for healthcare transmission prediction: comparison with whole genome sequencing | Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology | Cambridge Core

MALDI-TOF for healthcare transmission prediction: comparison with whole genome sequencing

cambridge.org

Helen was a brilliant, incredible reporter. I learned so much about infectious diseases because of her reporting.

STAT@statnews.com · 7d ago

We are going to miss you very much, Helen. https://www.statnews.com/2026/10/13/helen-branswell-stat-reporter-obituary/

If you’re a researcher using LLMs, you should assume it’s using your data to train Fascinating story of the ‘AI’ discovery that was being investigsted by a Copenhagen researcher who was using Claude www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/s...

Did Anthropic’s A.I. Really Make a Scientific Discovery on Its Own?

An expert at the University of Copenhagen said his team had been sharing its research with the company’s A.I. model, Claude, and that its new finding matched their work.

nytimes.com

CDC announced outbreak related to injected glutathione from wellness clinics 25+ people sick, 3+ hospitalized, many w/ IV glutathione (not FDA approved) from compounding pharmacies FDA posted a notice 8/27, but interestingly haven't seen an coverage. CDC emailed this AM www.cdc.gov/healthcare-a...

that bi-modal peak, though 🏔️🏔️

Dr. Lucky Tran@luckytran.com · last mo.

Here’s the chart for Cyclospora cases linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce that was processed in Mexico and recalled in July.

Are we still sharing this? Today my opening word was the Wordle Wordle 1,889 1/6 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

CDC's latest media statement says 2025-26 vaccination rates "remained high." Notable that the statement doesn't say that vaccination coverage among kindergartners has dropped for all vaccines, down to 92% for vaccines agst diphtheria, tetanus & pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella & polio.

The Simpsons: Homer Driving with Hostages

ALT: The Simpsons: Homer Driving with Hostages

static.klipy.com

My colleagues in my department here at Pitt had their grant cancelled. They were studying Alzheimer’s disease risk in predominantly African American neighborhoods here in Pittsburgh. Check out the coverage here in the Guardian www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Alzheimer’s research is latest casualty in Trump administration war against ‘DEI’

Grant cancellations at leading research institutions appear to target study of impacts of racism on brain health

theguardian.com

NIH Proposes Big Change In How Grants Applications Evaluated Here's my coverage in @forbes.com of this 🛟 🧪 😷 #AcademicSky #MedSky #episky🩺 #HiSciSky Public Health #science www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...

NIH Proposes Big Change In How Grants Applications Evaluated

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is proposing yet another significant change in its grant review process, moving away from numerical scores for applications.

forbes.com

The NIH just released a proposal that will apparently hide peer reviewers’ impact scores and percentiles from the research team, their institution, and NIH program officers. All the better to obscure how funding decisions will be made primarily via political review, I’m guessing.

Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (ICHE) and Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology (ASHE) are seeking enthusiastic Social Media Editors to join their Editorial Teams! Learn more about the role and how to apply: shea-online.org/social-media...

RFK in 2021: The COVID vaccine is the deadliest vaccine ever made Sometimes they forget there are receipts 🙄

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2mo ago

This is not going well for Bhattacharya 😬 BHATTACHARYA: Talk about misinformation: the decisions during the pandemic led to many people losing faith in public health BRENNAN: Trump admin officials BHATTACHARYA: No. I mean Biden. BRENNAN: The pandemic began during the Trump administration

A year ago a gunman attacked the CDC firing 500+ bullets & the White House never acknowledged it Yesterday, this ChatGPT generated poster board was put up for everyone to see…

Should patients be told when they’re part of an outbreak in a hospital? Does pathogen genomics change that? I first started this paper in 2020 in my bioethics class, and happy to share it peer reviewed, published now! www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Am I hallucinating?

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 3mo ago

BASH: I want you to use your bully pulpit to tells parents who have not vaccinated their kids that they should vaccine their kids for measles. Will you do that? Look into the camera RFK Jr: I'll say it right now. Parents should get their children vaccinated for measles.

Supporting a brilliant, life-long public servant from afar Yes, he sits in my desk at all times!

Biofire cyclospora % positive looks like it has finally peaked 👀 🤞🏻💩

I talked to @newyorker.com about the cyclospora outbreak, surveillance, and how this makes us think about investment in public health “It’s hard for the public to recognize when public health is working, because when it works, you don’t see it,” Sundermann told me www.newyorker.com/culture/prog...

Grocery Shopping in the Age of Explosive Diarrhea

The cyclospora outbreak lays bare our underfunded and overwhelmed public-health system.

newyorker.com

The administration is: “shifting research funding away from universities toward individual researchers” …do they know how research works? …who is doing this by themself?… www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/u...

Trump’s Plan for Science: More Money for A.I., Less for Universities (Gift Article)

Michael Kratsios, President Trump’s science adviser, proposed overhauling how the government funds research. Democrats said Mr. Trump’s actions had weakened science.

nytimes.com

@nathanraabe.bsky.social & I talked to @cidrap.bsky.social on NDM transmission in healthcare - lots of infection prevention implications Unless you are using genomics, you may miss the between-species transmission Thanks @cvdall.bsky.social for the chat! www.cidrap.umn.edu/antimicrobia...

The resistance gene that’s causing ‘nightmares’ in US hospitals

cidrap.umn.edu

I’m on the video platforms a lot lately and trying to explain all the ✨outbreaks✨ we’ve had lately!

Erin Biba@erinbiba.bsky.social · 3mo ago

This is a *fantastic* video that explains exactly WTF is going on with Taylor Farms and how tracing works TLDR: - they are responsible - the false positive was only on one of several samples - it’s difficult to test parasites - there may still be other sources - Taylor Farms is being shady AF

This is a *fantastic* video that explains exactly WTF is going on with Taylor Farms and how tracing works TLDR: - they are responsible - the false positive was only on one of several samples - it’s difficult to test parasites - there may still be other sources - Taylor Farms is being shady AF

A cool ‘negative finding’ So much of these supplies are thrown out after discharge. Nice knowing at least they don’t often have pathogens on them

Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology@ichejournal.bsky.social · 3mo ago

NEW in ICHE: do paper packaged medical supplies in the PICU have pathogens? ➡️ 0/140 (0%) of supplies sampled at discharge had no pathogens on them ➡️ 8/140 had non-pathogens collected #IDSky 📃: doi.org/10.1017/ice....

Ongoing multi-country NDM outbreak in Europe No point source identified, but it’s something being shared given lack of travel among cases Lots of medical devices/medications considered, but nothing common as of yet Super interesting 👀 www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2...

Since when do we compare mortality rates of other viruses when deciding what to do with quarantine measures? CDC says at-home quarantine = OK A non-medical, non-scientific RFK overrules and enforces federal quarantine www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Great interview from @helenbranswell.bsky.social w/ WHO Director When other health issues & armed conflict cause >> deaths than Ebola + mistrust/misinformation = difficulty to get best practices to contain spread But also the perspective that other countries only care now d/t threat to them

Helen Branswell 🇨🇦@helenbranswell.bsky.social · 4mo ago

How do you persuade people they need to take #Ebola seriously when more in their midst are dying from other diseases & armed conflict? That is the challenge #WHO DG Tedros confronted when he visited the outbreak zone in DRC this week. “Ebola is a lesser evil." www.statnews.com/2026/06/13/w...

“The woman said she regretted not getting her kids vaccinated when the outbreak started.” These kinds of stories are helpful for the vaccine hesitant parents The goal isn’t to convince the anti-vax, but out compete the vacuum that they have taken in public communications A great read below ⤵️

Amy Maxmen, PhD@amymaxmen.bsky.social · 4mo ago

My story on America's regressive, new reality is now up @kffhealthnews.org (without a paywall) kffhealthnews.org/public-healt...

My story on America's regressive, new reality is now up @kffhealthnews.org (without a paywall) kffhealthnews.org/public-healt...

Anguished Parents. Doctors in Tears. Utah’s Long Measles Outbreak Takes a Toll. - KFF Health News

Measles has been spreading in Utah for nearly a year, straining hospitals, schools, and parents. The state’s outbreak provides a glimpse into a new era in America’s health, in which vaccine-preventabl...

kffhealthnews.org

Amy Maxmen, PhD@amymaxmen.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I went to Utah to see what life is like in America's new reality, where vaccine-preventable diseases are common again. Utah's measles outbreak has lasted 10 months. Pediatricians teared up in interviews. Mothers were stressed. 🧵My latest @wired.com @kffhealthnews.org www.wired.com/story/anguis...

“[the editorial has gone] from being completely unknown to, as of last night, the 50th-most cited, most-viewed paper in the entire world among 300,000 papers published in the last month.” True Streisand effect happening

Megan Molteni@mmolteni.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Fallout continues from the ADA's decision to forcibly expel five diabetes experts from its annual meeting in New Orleans for handing out copies of an editorial criticizing federal cuts to biomedical research. Liz Cooney has the latest: www.statnews.com/2026/06/09/a...

Absurd in context of 1) dangers it causes to people & children, & 2) the 0 benefits raw milk “I’ve put a couple kids in the hospital ... But here’s the thing: I’m a pioneer. And I’m going against the grain here. I’m climbing a mountain they say you can’t climb” www.propublica.org/article/mark...

He Profits Off Raw Milk That’s Making People Sick. The Government Isn’t Stopping Him.

With Raw Farm, the largest raw-milk dairy in the country, Mark McAfee has capitalized on a once-fringe product that’s been thrust into the mainstream in recent years and backed by Health Secretary Rob...

propublica.org