Wednesday, January 27, 2010 |
The New York Academy of Sciences
Nearly 100,000 patients die in the United States every year from infections acquired while in the hospital. The high incidence, increased severity, and burgeoning costs of these infections to the health care system have resulted in a growing interest in new vaccines and other preventative measures. Common bacterial pathogens in the clinical setting include Staphylococci, Enterococci, Clostridia, and Pseudomonas. Clinicians also see a high incidence of resistance to antibiotics, pathogenicity islands, and toxins in these settings. In particular, the spread of community-associated, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has increased concerns for public safety.
This meeting will focus on current knowledge about vaccines for nosocomial infections, and specifically on the pathogenesis of select nosocomial bacteria. Talks will discuss host immunology, as well as lessons learned from vaccines already in use and those under development.
