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Reposted by Alan Koff

Edward Nirenberg @enirenberg.bsky.social · 17d

Okay so as promised... let's go through this paper and why it matters 🧵

#medsky #immunosky #idsky

Edward Nirenberg @enirenberg.bsky.social · 20d

I will try to do a tweetorial about this paper when I have more energy but this is really important data. It looks (tentatively, preliminarily) that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines might significantly enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy (subject to many caveats).

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint blockade

Nature - mRNA vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 also sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

rdcu.be

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Reposted by Alan Koff

Michael G. Ison, MD MS @michaelisonmd.bsky.social · 21d

Due to the US Government Shutdown, I will not be able to atted @IDWeek.bsky.social #IDWeek2025. I had worked on my 2 invited talks and so will share them.

My first talk was going to be about the epidemiology and clinical course of respiratory viral infections in the immunocompromised.

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Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · 24d

Hoping to see this reach its funding goal soon! Had a chance to test it out. Tons of learning for ID trainees, or those interested in global health, public health, emerging infections and one health.

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Reposted by Alan Koff

Pharmageddon @pharmageddon.bsky.social · 26d

🗳️Raffle time! Epipocalypse: Bug Detectives is halfway thru its Kickstarter.📢

Will give away 1 copy to the school, hospital, or club of choice to 2 raffle winners. Raffle ends Sunday AM. Every RT is an entry. Spread the good news!

#IDSky #MedSky #EpiSky

www.kickstarter.com/projects/pha...

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Reposted by Alan Koff

Pearlie Chong, MD, MSCR, FIDSA @pearliechong.bsky.social · Oct 10

💥Transplant ID colleagues attending #IDWeek2025, please mark your calendars 💥

👉 10/20/25: 8-8:25am Dr. Jeremy Walker (UAB) is our invited speaker on “Bridging the Gap between General and TID Practice”, moderated by Drs. Andrea Zimmer and Emily Eichenberger

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Reposted by Alan Koff

Pearlie Chong, MD, MSCR, FIDSA @pearliechong.bsky.social · Oct 10

👉 10/20/25: 5-5:25pm TID fellows, Drs. Gabriel Motoa Cardona (Columbia Presbyterian-Cornell) and Stella Radosta (UT Southwestern) will each present a case, with discussions led by Drs. Alan Koff (UC Davis) and Alpana Waghmare (University of Washington/Fred Hutch)

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Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · Oct 1

Excited for this new ID game to get funded. Already over $3000 towards funding goal in less than 24 hours! 💸

Mike and Empiric Game @empiricgame.bsky.social · Sep 30

I just backed Epipocalypse: Bug Detectives, A Medical Card Game on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/pha...

Epipocalypse: Bug Detectives, A Medical Card Game

Learn infectious diseases by playing cards. Symptoms, transmission, reservoirs, and more!

www.kickstarter.com

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Reposted by Alan Koff

Edward Nirenberg @enirenberg.bsky.social · Sep 24

Endorsed and co-signed

(with the caveat that strictly speaking variola is eradicated, not extinct, and measles is still considered eliminated for now in the US because we haven’t had a year of sustained transmission yet)

www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Risk and Benefit | NEJM

Editor-in-Chief Eric Rubin asks why, under an administration that says it is focused on making America healthy again, we are denigrating and discarding our single most cost-effective public health ...

www.nejm.org

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Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · Sep 21

News is all about H1B in the tech sector, but doesn’t mention how important that pathway is for IMG physicians. Imagine getting a residency program to sponsor an H1B for $100,000. This pathway will all but disappear except for high-paying specialty hires. Glad you made it back ok.

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Reposted by Alan Koff

Pharmageddon @pharmageddon.bsky.social · Sep 1

The Epipocalypse: Bug Detectives Kickstarter goes live in 30 days. Going to update the launch page with a sneak preview of some of the art. Anyone want to vote on which they like best?

Vote in the comments "1-4" for images clockwise or vote "5" for no preference. Thanks.

#IDSky #MedSky #EpiSky

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Reposted by Alan Koff

FungalDoc AKA Andrej Spec @fungaldoc.bsky.social · Aug 19

We are recruiting for a new faculty member in the Transplant ID section at @WashUMedID. Highly dynamic section, with immense growth potential. We want to help people build a career in patient care, education or research.

facultyopportunities.wustl.edu/Posting/Deta...

Opportunity Details - Faculty Opportunities

facultyopportunities.wustl.edu

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Reposted by Alan Koff

Joanna Schaenman, MD, PhD @jschaenmanmd.bsky.social · Aug 15

Reposting this fellowship opportunity for 1 year study of #TxID at @ucla-id-fellowship.bsky.social #IDfellow #IDSky - and we also have a #TxID faculty position available as well !

Joanna Schaenman, MD, PhD @jschaenmanmd.bsky.social · Jul 12

Just posted this #TxID fellowship opportunity on @idsainfo.bsky.social @astinfo.bsky.social @ast-idcop.bsky.social @ishlt.bsky.social - please share with any who might be interested in spending a year in LA ! #IDFellow #IDTwitter #IDSky @ucla-id-fellowship.bsky.social @harborucla-id.bsky.social

Joanna Schaenman, MD, PhD @jschaenmanmd.bsky.social · Jul 3

This just in:Transplant ID Career Development is now open! #TxID #IDSky #IDFellow🔥 @ucla-id-fellowship.bsky.social @domucla.bsky.social This is a 1-yr position- pls reach out with questions 🔬🦠💊@transplantidnet.bsky.social @ast-idcop.bsky.social @txidfellows.bsky.social recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10380

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Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · May 27

@maricarmalinis.bsky.social

Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · May 27

Sharing our paper on bacterial hepatic infections and all the unique manifestations of the different bugs. If you're short on time just check out Table 1.

Free view/download link active until July 11.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1l8Hj3tho0...

authors.elsevier.com

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Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · Mar 21

Difference between ABC and TAF is less impressive than both of them compared to TDF. I've tended to get patients on two drug regimens without tenofovir where possible because of some of these metabolic syndrome concerns.

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Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · Mar 18

Study looks underpowered, numerically the rates of VRE infection were lower with VRE prophylaxis at all time points. Outcomes with tigecycline here may not translate to daptomycin either, given very different drug properties. Need larger datasets/multicenter retrospectives.

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Reposted by Alan Koff

Jonathan Ryder, MD @jonathanrydermd.bsky.social · Mar 2

New from @ofidjournal.bsky.social

Outcomes of 56 kidney transplant recipients whose donors had positive BCx. Most pathogenic organisms were treated, while most commensals were not. No infections developed in recipients related to bacteremia

#IDSky #TxID

academic.oup.com/ofid/article...

Analyzing the Donor Dilemma: Outcomes of Kidney Transplant Recipients From Donors With Positive Blood Cultures Obtained at Organ Procurement

Abstract. Based on expert consensus, the American Society of Transplantation recommends 7–14 days of preventive antibiotic therapy for solid organ transpla

academic.oup.com

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Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · Mar 1

Are any HCWs at your site just wearing N95s all the time now? ER docs?

Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · Mar 1

Ideally HSCT recipients should be able to rely on the general population for herd immunity from measles. It's unfortunate that this needs to be considered due to waning vaccination rates. Interesting paper though, thanks for sharing.

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Reposted by Alan Koff

IDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · Feb 27

This decision — & other federal efforts to undermine well-established science about vaccine safety — puts everyone at risk, especially when we are currently experiencing the worst U.S. flu season in more than a decade, says IDSA President Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP.

Statement: bit.ly/41mfTFE

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Reposted by Alan Koff

Ruth Ann Crystal @drruth.bsky.social · Feb 21

Measles are contagious.
Measles cause 1 in 4 people to be hospitalized.
Measles can be deadly especially in children.
Measles can cause blindness & deafness.
Measles can cause brain damage yrs later.
Measles can cause "immune amnesia".

Measles are preventable with MMR vaccine.

#medsky #IDsky 🛟 😷🧪

Infographic on Measles in Red, light blue and yellow. It contains the timeline for measles, facts and the R0 that each person can infect 12 to 18 people in an unvaccinated population. Be Wise, Immunize with the MMR vaccine. Getting the vaccine is much safer than getting the disease.

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Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · Feb 12

Enjoyed reading this paper, especially their list outstanding questions related to utility of SBP prophylaxis. Would also add whether SBP ppx adds anything in patients who are already on rifaximin.

Nico Barros @nicobarrosid.bsky.social · Feb 12

This is a great commentary challenging the use of antibiotics for SBP prophylaxis in patients with cirrhosis.

academic.oup.com/cid/advance-...

I've added this review article by @arunasubramanian.bsky.social as it provides context to the question (great read).

journals.lww.com/hepcomm/full...

Rethinking Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Patients with Cirrhosis: First, Do No Harm

Abstract. Antibiotic prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBPPr) in patients with cirrhosis has been considered standard of care since the 19

academic.oup.com

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Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · Jan 21

Identify what the trainee wants from the project. Research skills? Networking? Experience for residency / fellowship applications? Publication? The project scope and timeline will vary depending on their goal.

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Alan Koff @alankoff.bsky.social · Jan 16

I do feel bad when they have to listen to all the history taking when all they want is to get a quick consent signed. But then they would never know the patient has a rescue dog named "Baxter" or that they worked in the traveling circus, so 🤷‍♂️

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