Science & Knowledge Sharing at ESCMID Global 2025
This year marked the fourth time Ecraid participated at the congress. Our booth in the Exhibition Hall served as a central point for meetings, conversations, and introductions – welcoming both familiar faces and those new to our organisation.
Over 16,000 people attended the 35th congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) in Vienna, both onsite and online.
ESCMID Global is the ideal place to meet experts from the field, thus sharing knowledge and exploring further collaborations with potential academic or industry partners. Adding to our mission of advancing clinical research in infectious diseases across Europe and beyond.
Ecraid Clinical Liaisons
The Chair and Vice-chair of our Ecraid Clinical Liaison Council (ECLC) – Oana Săndulescu (Bucharest, Romania) and Pontus Naucler (Stockholm, Sweden) respectively – were present at the Ecraid booth to discuss their vision for a strong ECL network in Europe, as well as connect with the other members of the ECL networks present at the congress.
The newest members of the ECL network from Georgia and Czech Republic also dropped by the booth to introduce themselves and meet the team.
Ecraid Science Across the Programme
Thanks to our dedicated colleagues in the Ecraid network, meaningful scientific contributions were made at the congress on behalf of Ecraid, represented in (e-)posters, oral presentations, and symposiums.
Highlights are listed below:
1-hour oral session on clinical studies in urinary tract infections chaired among others by Croatian Ecraid Clinical Liaison Iva Butic (Zagreb, Croatia). The POS-cUTI was presented by Chantal Kats (Hilversum, The Netherlands) in Antibiotic treatment duration of complicated urinary tract infection patients in Europe: results from the Ecraid POS-cUTI study.
An Educational Session organised in collaboration with Ecraid, ESCMID and more ESCMID study groups on New tools in acute bacterial infections and sepsis: from machine learning to precision medicine. Including a presentation by Lennie Derde (Utrecht, The Netherlands) on Improved clinical trials in community-acquired pneumonia using precision medicine.
An Industry Symposium from the PNEUMO Study presented by Ecraid member Cristina Prat (Utrecht, The Netherlands): Does number of serotypes matter? A new adult-specific pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to expand protection across the lifespan.
In addition, many of our Ecraid members and affiliated partners chaired sessions and presented research (from their own institutions), including Ecraid CEO Marc Bonten, Ecraid CSO Evelina Tacconelli, Ecraid Coordinating Committee Members Oliver Cornely, Stephan Harbarth, Arjana Tambic, Ecraid Clinical Liaison Chair and co-chair Oana Săndulescu and Pontus Naucler, ECL from Greece Despoina Koulenti, and many others.
We are proud to see the continued dedication of our network to advancing infectious diseases research.
Ecraid Posters
WP9
Political, ethical, administrative, regulatory and legal (PEARL) barriers to site activation experienced in a pan-European warm-base clinical trial networkPresented by CLIN-Net’s Sanne Hofstraat on behalf of Pryia Shreedhar.
WP9C (EPI-Net)
Surgical Site Infection surveillance in Europe: variability and challenges in a multicountry analysis. Presented by Karin Odoj.
Heterogeneity in Assessing the Burden of Urinary Tract Infections: A Literature Review and Recommendations. Presented by Elena Addis.
The updated emerging resistance index: application to WHO critical- and high-priority bacterial pathogens. Presented by Jacopo Garlasco.
Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship: the role of national surveillance and reporting in reducing antimicrobial resistance. Presented by Diego Ortiz.
Gaps in Outbreak Reporting: An analysis of Infection Prevention and Control Measures in European Healthcare Settings. Presented by Jacopo Garlasco on behalf of Maria Diletta Pezzani.
The Role of National Surveillance in Reducing Healthcare-Associaiated Infections: A European Analysis. Presented by Cristina Magnabosco.
Disrupted surveillance: COVID-19s impact on HAI reporting in Europe. Presented by Diego Ortiz.
POS-cUTI
Clinical failure in complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI): results of the ECRAID-Base POS-cUTI observational cohort. Presented by Josè Bravo-Ferrer.
POS-VAP
Ecraid’s perpetual observational study on ventilator-associated pneumonia (POS-VAP): empirical treatment practices across Europe.
Trial vs real life definitions: evaluating ventilator-associated pneumonia criteria for VAP diagnosis and cure. Both presented by Holly Jackson.
COMBACTE-CARE
Lastly, an e-poster Flash session from COMBACTE-CARE (one of the projects in Ecraid’s so-called predecessor COMBACTE): Prognostic factors and role of clinical management in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii bacteraemia: results from a prospective, international, multicentre cohort (EURECA). Presented by Francesco Cogliati.
Ecraid Young Investigator Workshop
Following three Young Investigator Workshops at ESCMID Global, Ecraid in collaboration with ESCMID organised the 4th edition. The workshop attracted 50 attendees from across the world.
Holly Jackson (Geneva, Switzerland), Jacopo Garlasco (Verona, Italy) and Valentijn Schweitzer (Utrecht, the Netherlands), presented and guided the discussion at the end. Holly expanded on the innovative nature of Ecraid’s perpetual observational studies (POS) and the challenges and pitfalls as a result of running (complex) clinical trials. Jacopo emphasized the power of networking and referred to Ecraid as “a universe” because of its scope in terms of expertise and geography.
The session ended with a lively Q&A, showing strong engagement and curiosity from participants.
Did you miss the workshop? A recording will soon be available to everyone.
Education and Training
Ecraid’s Education activities stirred much interest, particularly among young investigators and researchers at the beginning of their careers. Many booth visitors asked about our courses and trainings, and were keen to learn more about how to get involved or join our courses.
Recognising Marion Koopmans
Ecraid Coordinating Committee member, Professor Marion Koopmans, received the prestigious ESCMID Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Infection.
She was awarded this prestigous award in a dedicated session at the 35th ESCMID Global. Her award lecture - Towards pandemic prevention: moonshot or utopia? - was an eye opening and thought provoking piece showing exactly why she is a worthy first recipient of this award.
See you at ESCMID Global 2026!
We look forward to seeing you at ESCMID’s next congress which will be held from 17-21 April 2026 in Munich, Germany.