Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
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pergamic.bsky.social
Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
@pergamic.bsky.social
Transplant ID Doc and IP Director @Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center/ Faculty @UWMedicine. #InfectionPrevention #TxID #vaccines #prevention #protection #medtwitter

Posts/comments are my own and not reflective of my institutions.
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
“All I can say is ‘Wake up, America. This administration wants to take your vaccines away from you. And they’re on a path to do that,’” Michael Osterholm, director of @cidrap.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/11/20/c...
Under RFK Jr., CDC reverses course on stance that vaccines don’t cause autism
A CDC website now promotes the debunked idea of a link between vaccines and autism.
www.statnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Got mine!
November 21, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
Decades of rigorous and scientifically sound research have proven that vaccines do not cause autism. CDC’s decision to change language on its website reversing that finding is reckless & harmful.

Our statement w/ @hivma.bsky.social, APIC, @sheaepi.bsky.social & @sidpharm.bsky.social: bit.ly/3XEc0KH
November 21, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
"Essentially Cassidy asked for a promise. And all he got was an asterisk." Former CDC senior leader Dan Jernigan on how, after promising not to do so, Kennedy's HHS has rewritten #CDC 's webpage on whether there's a link between #vaccines & autism. www.statnews.com/2025/11/20/c...
Under RFK Jr., CDC reverses course on stance that vaccines don’t cause autism
A CDC website now promotes the debunked idea of a link between vaccines and autism.
www.statnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Seems like a recipe for disaster in the midst of national shortage of nurses.

Nurses are the lifeblood of any healthcare system.

www.statesman.com/news/article...
Department of Education says nursing is no longer a professional degree
The education department no longer considers nursing as a professional degree program, which can weaken funding for students wanting to enter the health care field.
www.statesman.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
I often hear "I wish we didn't have to waste these expensive meds every time a patient stops & has extra left over."

Here's what the state of Michigan did to combat this:
- Statewide cancer drug repository, 105 sites
- $26 million value/>100K pills donated to >1K pts

ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/...
Transforming Cancer Drug Access: Insights Into Utilization and Clinician Satisfaction in a Statewide Cancer Drug Repository Network | JCO Oncology Practice
PURPOSEThe rise in high-cost cancer therapies has intensified financial strain on patients with cancer, whereas medication waste simultaneously continues to increase. This study evaluated outcomes…
ascopubs.org
November 18, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
👧🏽 Since 2008, vaccination against human papillomavirus #HPV is free for girls in Denmark

🔎 Researchers looked at 16,955 cervical cell samples from 8,659 women over a 7-year study period

📉 #vaccination has reduced infections with cancerogenic HPV 16/18 types

#VaccinesWork #CervicalCancer 🛟
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
Highly pathogenic H5N5 avian flu has mostly been detected in wild birds and transmitted from Europe to N. America by pelagic seabirds. Mammals (seals, walrus, cats) have been infected, but this is the 1st documented human case. Some have a PB2-E627K mutation known to facilitate mammalian adaptation.
A case in WA of H5N5 (not H5N1), a strain of avian influenza not seen in humans before:

“This is a severely ill patient,” hospitalized w/ high fever, confusion & respiratory distress, said the state epidemiologist.

They have a mixed backyard flock...

1/2

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
First U.S. case of human bird flu in 9 months confirmed in Washington state
The U.S. has reported its first human case of bird flu since February, with a confirmed infection in Washington state
www.washingtonpost.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
The suspected outbreak of a hemorrhagic vial illness in Ethiopia has now been confirmed to Marburg Virus Disease. So far 9 cases have been identified in a part of the country that shares a border with Sudan.
apnews.com/article/ethi...
Ethiopia confirms first Marburg outbreak as WHO lauds country's fast action
Ethiopia has confirmed its first Marburg outbreak after nine cases were identified in the southern region of the country that borders South Sudan.
apnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
I had the HUGE honor of being the 40th Forbes Fellow - when I was the previous awardees, I was truly humbled. The ID community is incredible in Melbourne. @monashuniversity.bsky.social @unimelb.bsky.social @thedohertyinst.bsky.social @trubianojason.bsky.social @bradgardiner.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
This is so odious and spiteful. But par for the course for these monsters.
🚨Dept. of Education proposes to exclude public health degrees from the “professional degree” category.

That means new public health experts could lose access to key higher ed resources, like loan limits & reimbursement.

A bold strategy to let infectious diseases win! 🦠

aspph.org/department-o...
Department of Education Proposal Excludes Public Health Degrees from “Professional Degree” Definition
Discover the new results and implications of Dept of Ed consensus regarding professional degree programs and public health education.
aspph.org
November 14, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
This Week! Register now to unlock key insights on HSV Infections in this upcoming ICHS webinar! Free for ICHS members + select attendees/$25 for non-members. Register at: ichs.org
November 10, 2025 at 12:00 AM
A major loss for everyone trying to understand how to prevent respiratory viruses and other major pathogens worldwide.

Sharing data assures we are prepared.

Now we are not
On Oct 1, 2025, GISAID informed us that they had ended updates to the flat file of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and associated metadata that we had used to update Nextstrain analyses since Feb 2020. GISAID's stated rationale was that their "resources are limited". 1/5
November 7, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
On Oct 1, 2025, GISAID informed us that they had ended updates to the flat file of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and associated metadata that we had used to update Nextstrain analyses since Feb 2020. GISAID's stated rationale was that their "resources are limited". 1/5
November 6, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
Not recommending COVID vaccines for healthcare workers is a disaster waiting to happen. Great piece from @drjudystone.bsky.social and Judith Feinberg. www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/c...
Health care workers under 65 must be vaccinated against Covid
The vaccination status of health care workers under 65 has profound implications for millions of Americans.
www.statnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
Got a great session idea for next year's @idweek.bsky.social ? You can submit either a full symposium or a quick topic or speaker idea ! #medEd #IDfellow #TID #IDSky @idsainfo.bsky.social #IDWeek2025 idweek.org/program/
Program - IDWeek
Have a great idea for a session next year? IDWeek want to hear your ideas! Submit a session suggestion for the 2026 conference by Oct. 31. You have options!
idweek.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
October 28, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
New study shows antagonism between olorofim and voriconazole in vitro, suggesting this may be a class effect

academic.oup.com/jac/advance-... #MedMycoSky #TxID #IDSky
October 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
ICHS is an ESCMID Affiliated Society. Together we strive to strengthen the vibrant collaboration among worldwide experts & specialists in the field. ESCMID opportunities and programs are listed on the ICHS website. ICHS.org
October 27, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
From UW/FHCC Dr Michael Boeckh:

Inclusion of immunocompromised individuals in clinical trials of influenza antivirals is essential to ensure that ICIs have equitable access to valuable interventions. #IDSKy

academic.oup.com/jid/article/...
Influenza Antivirals for Prevention and Treatment in Immunocompromised People
Antivirals are an important backbone for the prevention and treatment of influenza in immunocompromised individuals, who are prone to prolonged viral shedd
academic.oup.com
October 24, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
In the past 2 weeks several European countries have reported locally acquired cases of #mpox clade Ib.
This is new. There had been patients before but those infections likely happened elsewhere.
Now it looks like mpox Ib is spreading here in the sexual networks of men who have sex with men.
#IDsky
October 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
Due to the USG Shutdown, I wasn’t able to attend or present @idweek.bsky.social. I was supposed to give the talk on top viral studies that will impact your practice. Here are the papers I was going to highlight:

See next posts
October 22, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Reposted by Steven Pergam, MD, MPH
Important Ongoing Studies where we have or will have publications soon:

Pritelivir for refractory or resistant HSV (presented @idweek.bsky.social by @kottonnelson.bsky.social): www.aicuris.com/press-releas...

CD388 for prevention of influenza: www.cidara.com/news/cidara-...
Aicuris Announces Pritelivir Met Primary Endpoint in Immunocompromised Herpes Simplex Virus-infected Patients in Phase 3 Pivotal Trial - Aicuris
Aicuris today announced that the Phase 3 trial of its lead candidate pritelivir has met its primary and secondary endpoint. The aim of the trail was to evaluate
www.aicuris.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:40 PM