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Steps forward in LRTI and tuberculosis: update from the ERS Respiratory Infections Assembly

¹ Institute of Respiratory Diseases, University of Milan, Ospedale Maggiore Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico, ² Emergency Medicine Dept, Ospedale Maggiore Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, ³ World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Fondazione S. Maugeri, Care and Research Institute, Tradate, Italy. ⁴ Medical Centre Alkmaar, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.

CORRESPONDENCE: F. Blasi, Istituto Malattie dell’Apparato Respiratorio, University of Milan, Padiglione Sacco Ospedale Maggiore Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy. Fax: 39 0250320628. E-mail: francesco.blasi{at}unimi.it

Keywords: European Respiratory Society Congress, respiratory infections, tuberculosis

Received: November 5, 2008
Accepted December 18, 2008

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and tuberculosis are among the leading reasons for seeking medical care.

In the present report, the most recent advances in the fields of clinical research and basic science of LRTIs and tuberculosis are presented through analysis of some of the best abstracts presented at the 18th European Respiratory Society Annual Congress in Berlin.

The role of viruses in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations and the importance of new biomarkers in the diagnosis of bacterial infections in LRTI are discussed.

New tools for the diagnosis of latent and active tuberculosis in special subgroups of patients (children, immunocompromised individuals, etc.), and the new epidemiological threat of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis cases is analysed.