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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Today is World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, which takes place annually to raise global awareness of the ongoing burden of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease. We asked editorial board member Prof. Juzar Ali for his reflections on the progress ...
As respiratory and pulmonary medicine continues to advance, staying ahead of the curve has never been more critical. In 2025, important therapeutic approvals, major guideline updates, and progress in personalized medicine, artificial intelligence, and diagnostics reshaped how respiratory and pulmonary diseases are understood and managed. As we welcome the new year, we asked our touchRESPIRATORY 2025 Future Leaders to share the developments they believe will shape the future of the field. Here, they highlight three emerging areas poised to influence clinical practice—not only in the year ahead, but for years to come.
Tuberculosis (TB) has risen once again, as of 2023, to return to being the world’s deadliest infectious disease. TB causes around one million deaths annually, leaving devastating impacts on patients and their communities.1 Historically, TB has been treated in separate ...
Tuberculosis (TB), an airborne infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, spreads primarily when active in the lungs of patients with undiagnosed TB disease.1,2Â TB infectivity and transmission continue to be an on-going and challenging concern, especially in high-incidence areas, requiring ...
In this year-end review, we are pleased to share personal highlights from members of the touchRESPIRATORY Editorial Board and this year's Future Leaders cohort, whose perspectives offer a window into the innovations that have most influenced clinical practice and research over the past 12 months. Their reflections capture not only the momentum of 2025, but also the promise of what lies ahead as the field continues to evolve.
A Phase 2, multicentre trial is evaluating a novel inhaled formulation of itraconazole in patients with ABPA-complicating asthma. This study aims to assess the safety, optimal dosing, and potential clinical benefits of delivering antifungal therapy directly to the lungs, addressing a key unmet need in this challenging condition.
A phase 2a study presented at ERS 2025 explored the potential of vapendavir, an oral antiviral, to treat rhinovirus-triggered COPD exacerbations. Rhinoviruses are the leading cause of COPD flare-ups, driving hospitalizations, healthcare costs, and long-term lung decline. The study demonstrated that vapendavir was well tolerated, reduced symptom severity, improved lung function, and accelerated recovery, highlighting its promise as a novel therapeutic approach for managing COPD exacerbations.
As touchRESPIRATORY approaches 10 years of providing education for busy respiratory specialists, we are looking to the future—and it certainly looks bright! This year, we are celebrating our inaugural touchRESPIRATORY Future Leaders to recognize the outstanding talent that has entered our field in recent years. These individuals are set to innovate and transform respiratory and pulmonary medicine in the years to come.
Harnessing Proteomics to Transform Tuberculosis Diagnostics: a Q&A with Future Leader, Hannah Schiff
In this Future Leaders interview, Dr Hannah Schiff shares how proteomics is revolutionising tuberculosis diagnostics by identifying new, accessible biomarkers. She reflects on her journey from infectious disease research to respiratory medicine, and how large dataset analysis is revealing deeper insights into TB biology. Dr Schiff also offers practical advice on managing clinical-academic balance and encourages early-career doctors to stay curious and open to research opportunities.
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.
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