Respiratory Infections
An Introduction to Airway and Lung Infection
The field of airway and lung infection is topical in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic; SARS-CoV-2 is one of several novel respiratory viruses to emerge in the 21st century. Viruses and bacteria can cause a range of respiratory diseases, including acute bronchitis, the common cold, influenza, respiratory distress syndromes, pertussis, pneumonia and tuberculosis. Symptoms of viral infections may range from being very mild to a severe respiratory illness, and therefore prompt and reliable diagnosis is essential. Antibiotic resistance remains the major challenge in bacterial infection. Emerging approaches include cell-based therapies involving mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of respiratory infections. However, the multiple challenges involved in developing curative therapies for infections highlight the importance of prevention, and vaccine research is essential.
Browse our selection of video highlights and short articles from the conference hub, providing insights into the latest updates from major conferences and a selection of peer-reviewed articles from the journal portfolio.
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As touchRESPIRATORY approaches 10 years of providing education for busy respiratory specialists, we are looking to the future—and it certainly looks bright!
GREAT-2 was a phase II, placebo-controlled trial evaluating gremubamab, a bispecific monoclonal antibody, for chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in bronchiectasis. As part of our ATS 2025 coverage, Dr Merete Long discusses how this targeted therapy disrupts the vicious cycle of infection and inflammation, trial outcomes including significant bacterial load reduction and improved quality of life, and the broader implications for future treatment strategies.
Explore expert perspectives from ATS 2025 with our exclusive interview series. Discover key advances in respiratory care, including updates on COPD, ILD, ventilation strategies, and emerging therapies. Stay informed with concise, clinically relevant insights tailored for healthcare professionals on touchRESPIRATORY.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) poses a serious threat in ICUs, often driven by biofilms on endotracheal tubes that resist antibiotics. In this Q&A, Professor Frank MP van Haren discusses a study showing that nebulized BromAc® effectively disrupts these biofilms and enhances antibiotic action, offering a promising strategy against persistent infections like Pseudomonas aeruginosa-related VAP.
Physician burnout is at a critical point. In this episode, Nicky speaks with Dr Alfred Atanda about why so many physicians are burning out and what can be done to change the trend. From personal experience to system-wide solutions, Dr Atanda shares valuable insights on improving physician well-being and building a more effective healthcare culture.
What if your medical degree could launch more than a clinical career? In this candid and compelling read, Dr Jon Edelson shares his lessons for early-career clinicians ready to think beyond the bedside and explore the business of medicine.
In this Future Leaders interview, we speak with Dr Kaylee Worlock, post-doctoral research fellow at UCL and winner of the 2025 Rising Stars award at the 7th Forum on RTIs. Dr Worlock shares her journey into respiratory science, her pioneering work in developmental biology, and her vision for the future of translational research.
In this episode, we explore the future of continuing medical education (CME) with the team behind touchIME. Hannah Fisher and Matthew Goodwin share insights into global and US trends, the importance of patient inclusivity and how educational outcomes are evolving to better measure the direct impact of learning on clinical practice and patient care.
Dr. Véronique Suttels discusses her work on improving tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics in low-resource settings through AI-assisted lung ultrasound (LUS). In this Future Leaders interview, Dr Suttels outlines the potential challenges of implementing diagnostic tools like CAD LUS4TB across multiple countries and reflects on the role of technology in addressing diagnostic gaps. Her research highlights both the potential and limitations of AI in advancing equitable, scalable solutions for global TB control.
Back in February 2025, the 7th Forum on Respiratory Tract Infections (RTI) took place at the iconic Glasgow Science Centre - a fitting venue for a scientific conference built on innovation, collaboration and ground-breaking research. Each year RTI continues to grow ...
Improving Access and Outcomes in Pulmonary and Critical Care: A Q&A with Future Leader, Dr Amy Wolfe
As part of our Future Leaders series, we spoke with Dr Amy Wolfe, Director of the LSUHSC-Wetmore TB Clinic and Assistant Professor of Medicine at LSUHSC in New Orleans. A specialist in pulmonary and critical care medicine, Dr Wolfe shares how her early experiences in post-Katrina New Orleans inspired her focus on health equity. She discusses the challenges of treating TB in underserved communities, the importance of wraparound care, and promising innovations in pulmonology—from AI-based diagnostics to expanded access to pulmonary rehabilitation and lung cancer screening.
As part of our Future Leaders series, we speak with Dr Helen Gavillet, a post-doctoral researcher at Northumbria University (UK) and Rising Star at RTI 2025. Dr Gavillet's research focuses on the lung microbiome in cystic fibrosis, particularly bacterial and fungal dynamics. Her research also examines the impact of CFTR modulators like elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor on respiratory microbiota.
As part of our Future Leaders series, Dr. Shelby MacRae, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at LSUHSC, shares her journey from ICU intern to bronchiectasis and NTM researcher. She discusses challenges in care, lack of awareness, and future advances. Passionate about mentorship, she encourages future pulmonologists to find balance, build foundations, and stay driven by patient needs.
In this interview, Professor Juzar Ali, MD, FRCP(C), FCCP, a leading expert in respiratory medicine and LSU Alumni Klein Professor Emeritus of Medicine at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, LA, USA, reflects on his distinguished career specializing in tuberculosis (TB), non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease (NTM) and bronchiectasis.
As winter takes hold, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has begun sharing updates on pathogens and their impact across the Northern Hemisphere. This time of year is marked by a significant rise in acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and other common respiratory illnesses.
The International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG), is proud to host the 8th IPCRG Scientific Meeting in Brașov, Romania, on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 April 2025. This event, in partnership with the RespiRO team and the Transilvania University of Brașov promises to bring together researchers, innovators, and industry leaders to advance respiratory care in primary health settings.
A recent study published in the European Respiratory Journal has revealed new insights into the immune response in children suffering from recurrent respiratory tract infections (rRTIs).
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