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Infectious diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide.
We are living in an era of re-awakening where new and re-emerging infectious diseases are being recognized as leading world health problems. Since 1970, the death rate for infectious diseases has increased by 75%. The rate of hospitalization for infections has increased sevenfold. Rapid spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has resulted in negative population growth and major societal disruption in African countries. In some African nations, 35% of young adults are infected and more than 25% of children are orphaned as a result of this terrible illness. HIV now ranks with childhood diarrheal diseases, pneumonia, malaria and tuberculosis as a leading cause of death globally.
The ability of modern technology to control infectious diseases has significantly declined. Antibiotic development over the past 60 years has resulted in many "wonder drugs," which cured infections in the past. However, antibiotic resistance began emerging early in the antibiotic age. Microbiologists and infectious disease physicians began analyzing bacterial genetics and discovered that use and overuse of antibiotics lead to chromosomal changes, which over time, result in antibiotic resistance. Will these "wonder drugs" eventually become useless?
As public health practitioners and clinicians, we must determine how to deal with this resistance. Questions about irresponsible antibiotic use arise. "Why do we allow antibiotics in animal feed? Why do we prescribe antibiotics for patients with no objective evidence of bacterial infection?" Will people in the future blame those in the past for cost-effective medicine and managed care which resulted in the emergence of infectious diseases? Will they blame physicians who did not consider the public health implications of their prescribing practices? Is the government, FDA, CDC or NIH at fault? Whatever future generations may conclude, the facts are obvious. We continue to misuse and abuse antibiotics-one of the greatest advances in human history-because we are unwilling to change.
One of the greatest human triumphs in health has been the control of many human diseases through vaccination. Smallpox has been eliminated. Childhood diseases such as diphtheria, measles, and mumps, which previously resulted in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, remain present at low levels and are generally limited to developing nations where vaccination is not as widely implemented.
Each medical advance, however, brings with it new challenges. The Anopheline mosquito, the vector for malaria, has become resistant to DDT which was previously used to control their numbers. Their resurgence has brought the re-emergence of dengue, yellow fever, encephalitis and malaria. Furthermore, cholera, which had disappeared from the Western hemisphere for decades, reappeared in the early 1990s and is now well established in Central and South America.
In cities worldwide, the public health infrastructure has been allowed to deteriorate. Immunization efforts have slackened, resistant organisms have emerged and the implications are daunting. It is vital that we face these challenges with determination and optimism. We possess the tools and insight necessary to predict, anticipate, treat, and suppress bacterial infections. We have an ever-expanding arsenal of tools in the battle against parasitic, viral and fungal diseases as well. Advancements in genetics and molecular communication are improving our understanding of host-pathogen relationships.
Hopefully you will take the time to consider a career in Infectious Diseases. You will realize that it is the most fascinating of specialties and among the most rapidly changing fields as well.
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
OFFICER ELECTIONS 2007
Elections will be held online via a link sent to IDIG members only
CO-PRESIDENTS – Please elect two
-Umayer Ali
-Michael Roberts
VP OF EVENTS – Please elect one
-Jarrod Keeler
VP OF RESEARCH – Please elect one
-Brooke Bavinger
I am running for Vice President of Research for the Infectious Disease Interest Group because I believe that research will not only provide treatments for current diseases but will also prepare the healthcare community for future epidemics. My past experiences have taught me methods for organizing and integrating research. I have worked as a lab assistant at a university and was charged with overseeing forty students' research. My duties included reviewing papers and approving research topics. I have also participated in research and have ties at one of the largest ophthalmologic research labs in the southeast, the Jaeb Center for Health Research. My organizational skills will be an asset to the group. I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as Vice President of Research for the group and look forward to everything we can do in the next year. Thank you for your time.
-Melanie LetoBarone
Wow…you must be serious if you are actually going through and reading the speeches! Good for you! Very well then, I pledge that if you vote for me to be the Vice President of Research that I will inform members of the IDIG of the fabulous research opportunities available with infectious disease faculty members. I will also keep IDIG members updated on infectious disease related conferences where they could potentially submit abstracts. I have a good amount of research experience from my undergraduate days (Phylogenetics – pretty exciting, huh!?!) and I would be more than willing to give encouragement and guidance to anyone needing it. I also have a real interest in the field of Infectious Disease, and I have participated in a number of the events that IDIG has offered (thanks Veronica!). However, either way you vote, you can't really go wrong…my opposition Brooke is a lovely girl, and would also do a highly competent job if given the position.
SECRETARY/HISTORIAN – Please elect one
-Niru Gupta
Lunch Meetings
INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND CHAOS THEORY - Dr. Arye Goldberger
TBA
Skills Sessions
*RSVP required for these sessions to Veronica Tucci
STD SKILLS SESSIONS
TBA
Attendance at one of the STD luncheons is mandatory before you can participate in these skills sessions
NEURO SKILLS SESSIONS
TBA (April or May)
Shadowing Opportunity
Dr. Beata Casanas has graciously offered to allow students to shadow her at TGH, the VA, DOH, etc. (at any of the facilities she works). If you are interested, please contact Erin McVey to set up the opportunity.
To see Dr. Casanas' CV, click here.
USF COM IDIG | 2007 | Webmaster | 
