Ilan Schwartz
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germhuntermd.bsky.social
Ilan Schwartz
@germhuntermd.bsky.social
14K followers 3.8K following 2.3K posts
ID doctor and fungal enthusiast. #IDSky community builder. #TxID, global health, MedEd. @idjclub.bsky.social

Posts don't represent my employer (obviously)
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germhuntermd.bsky.social
Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · Mar 24
Our patients persecuted; colleagues and public health institutions under attack. Our field needs to rise up & fight back

Silence=Death Redux: Infectious Diseases, Public Health, and the Imperative to Resist

Viewpoint by @ericmeyerowitz.bsky.social & me

OpenAccess: academic.oup.com/cid/advance-...
Silence=Death Redux: Infectious Diseases, Public Health, and the Imperative to Resist
The second Trump administration has released a torrent of executive policies hostile to public health, science, and marginalized populations. We outline th
academic.oup.com
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
aetiology.bsky.social
Hey hey team #mealioidosis - (Infectious Disease, public health, anyone who still believes that vaccines work)-- donate starting tomorrow!
shematologist.medsky.social Shematologist, MD @shematologist.medsky.social · 23h
5 years ago I started a team competition on Twitter to raise $ to fight hunger.

@tmprowell.bsky.social gave us a hashtag & much needed organization

Our team of teen volunteers work wonders in the background & we’ve raised >$3.1 million!

Competition starts tomorrow, join us?

HCWvsHunger.org
Healthcare Workers vs Hunger
Healthcare workers vs Hunger is an annual friendly competition between teams of healthcare workers to help relieve food insecurity.
HCWvsHunger.org
November 27, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
marcbonten.bsky.social
We recorded a next episode of communicable - podcast from @cmicomms.bsky.social - on "whether to stay or leave twitter/X" with @germhuntermd.bsky.social (40K followers, he left), Neil Stone (115.694, still there) and @aetiology.bsky.social (111.492, still there). (1/)
@angelahuttner.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
wintercourseid.bsky.social
Full 2026 Agenda Now Available online: wintercourseinfectiousdiseasefoundation.wildapricot.org/page-18332

Discounted lodging is going fast! Register now via our group reservation hotline www.wintercourse.org

52nd Annual Remington WCID: Feb 8-12, 2026, Copper Mountain, CO
#IDSky #MedSky
November 25, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
skepticaliddoc.bsky.social
I recall a debate between two of my ID colleagues @germhuntermd.bsky.social & @drneilstone.bsky.social about choosing to leave Twitter/X.
Here's a great read to give Ilan the win.
www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk’s Worthless, Poisoned Hall of Mirrors
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
kieraevebutler.bsky.social
New from me: I talked to CDC staffers about the new vaccines and autism page. They said things like:

“The best way I can put it is it feels like we’re on a hijacked airplane.”

“I think people are starting to see that we can’t fulfill our mission here.”
“Embarrassing” and “horrifying”: CDC workers describe the new vaccines and autism page
"The best way I can put it is it feels like we're on a hijacked airplane."
www.motherjones.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
minakimes.bsky.social
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.

www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
As I spent more and more of my life under the care of doctors, nurses, and researchers striving to improve the lives of others, I watched as Bobby cut nearly a half billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccines, technology that could be used against certain cancers; slashed billions in funding from the National Institutes of Health, the world's largest sponsor of medical research; and threatened to oust the panel of medical experts charged with recommending preventive cancer screenings. Hundreds of N.I.H. grants and clinical trials were cancelled, affecting thousands of patients. I worried about funding for leukemia and bone-marrow research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. I worried about the trials that were my only shot at remission. Early in my illness, when I
November 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
sherylnyt.bsky.social
HOT OFF THE PRESSES: RFK Jr. told me he personally instructed CDC to abandon its longstanding position that vaccines don't cause autism. He acknowledged that large-scale studies of MMR vaccine and thimerosal show no link. But he cited gaps in vaccine safety science.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
Kennedy Says He Told C.D.C. to Change Website’s Language on Autism and Vaccines
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
jabarocas.bsky.social
Hello #bluesky
The annual #HCWvsHunger competition starts again on November 27. We have formed our #IDSky, #publichealth, #vaccineswork team again: #mealioidosis. Go to hcwvshunger.org for more info! @hcwvshunger.bsky.social @idsainfo.bsky.social @hivma.bsky.social @cudivofid.bsky.social
Healthcare Workers vs Hunger
Healthcare workers vs Hunger is an annual friendly competition between teams of healthcare workers to help relieve food insecurity.
hcwvshunger.org
November 22, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
murray.senate.gov
RFK Jr. has NO business being health secretary and his conspiracy theories are going to get people killed.

This cannot continue—Republicans should join me in calling for RFK Jr. to be FIRED.
CDC in turmoil after agency backpedals on rejecting vaccines-autism link
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), who voted to confirm Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after he pledged not to remove language stating vaccines do not cause autism from the CDC website, condemne...
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:14 PM
germhuntermd.bsky.social
CDC website changes suggesting that vaccines cause autism were made by a senior communications official without scientific leadership sign off when lower comms ppl balked

"CDC cannot currently be trusted as a scientific voice" @drdemetre.bsky.social

Gift Link to story by Lena Sun wapo.st/3X9Mr43
The current CDC page says that studies supporting a link between vaccines and autism “have been ignored by health authorities.” It states: “The claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.” CDC communications staff who were first asked to post the revisions to the website were reluctant to do so without sign-off from scientific leadership, so a higher-level communications official did so, according to an agency employee and a former federal health official with direct knowledge of the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. The revisions show that the “CDC cannot currently be trusted as a scientific voice,” said Demetre Daskalakis, who formerly led the agency’s center responsible for respiratory viruses and immunizations. He was one of three senior leaders who resigned in August because of what they said was the politicization of science at the agency. “The weaponization of the CDC voice by validating false claims on official websites confirms what we have been saying,” he said.
November 21, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
mrccmm.bsky.social
#ImageOfTheWeek ¦ The Fungal Superhighway 🧫

Cryptococcus neoformans (blue) moving through mouse nose tissue (pink). This image is the first time it’s been seen in this formation in the airways.

📸 Dr Vanessa Francis, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology

#FungalInfection #Mycology #Science
November 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
germhuntermd.bsky.social
@cidjournal.bsky.social State-of-the-Art Review: Antibiotic Allergy—A Multidisciplinary Approach to Delabeling

academic.oup.com/cid/article/...
Graphical abstract
November 20, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
ddiamond.bsky.social
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
Autism and Vaccines QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS PAGE 2 OF 9 | ALL PAGES J For Everyone NOV. 19, 2025 KEY POINTS • The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism. • Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities. HHS Research on Plausible Biologic Mechanisms between Vaccines and Autism HHS will evaluate plausible biologic mechanisms between early childhood vaccinations and autism. Mechanisms for further investigation include the impacts of aluminum adjuvants, risks for certain children with mitochondrial disorders, harms of neuroinflammation, and more. * The header "Vaccines do not cause autism" has not been removed due to an agreement with the chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee that it would remain on the CDC website.
November 20, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
olivercornely.bsky.social
🌍 Young ISHAM is a global network for young scientists in medical mycology - connect, collaborate & grow your career in fungal research. Join the next generation of mycologists!
🔗 isham.org/young-isham
#YoungISHAM #Mycology #ScienceNetwork #FutureMycologists @youngisham.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
cmicomms.bsky.social
🌱 New opportunity: We are recruiting a new associate editor for our journal with expertise in viral infections & antiviral therapy. Read our call and apply if you're a good fit! www.cmi-comms.org/article/S295...

⏰ Deadline: 15 Dec 2025

#IDSky #clinmicro #virology #virosky
An open call to join the CMI Communications editorial team: editor in viral infections and antiviral therapy
CMI Communications, the official open-access journal of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), is looking for an editor with strong clinical and research exper...
www.cmi-comms.org
November 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
germhuntermd.bsky.social
With All Good Intentions: How CDC Decisions Harmed Science and People

An account by Dr John Weiser, a clinician researcher at CDC, on CDC leadership decisions to stand up to RFK/Trump vs going along with intentions of mitigating harms

academic.oup.com/jid/advance-...
Could CDC leaders have saved HIV prevention and research work by standing up to the administration? Given that CDC Director Susan Monarez was fired for not rubber-stamping Kennedy’s positions on vaccinations, the answer is likely no. But her principled stand reverberated widely as a model for defending science and people. In contrast, decisions by some CDC leaders to go along, with the hope of saving what could be saved, have harmed scientific integrity and the people we made a commitment to serve, without achieving the desired salutary effect.
November 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
oligoclonalband.medsky.social
Recently I gave a history talk and a woman said "this is more a comment than a question, but I want you to be my friend" and it was MY FAVORITE MORE A COMMENT THAN A QUESTION EVER 🥰🥰🥰

(Sometimes it's about what's in the comment. I get a lot of men with "hey, hey, I also know a history thing.")
germhuntermd.bsky.social Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 13d
Gender differences in audience participation at infectious disease & microbiology conferences: a prospective observational study

@sarah-delliere.bsky.social #IDSky

Men overrepresented among audience participants during ID /micro meetings

www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.org/article/S119...
Proportion of participations made by men (yellow) and women (purple) according to various session and conference characteristics, including conference type, gender of the first intervenor, moderators' gender, speakers' gender, type of participation (comment vs. question), and conference gender attendance (>50% women). Percentages represent the share of each gender among total participations within each category. Dotted lign represents the global proportion of women attendees at conference. Men over represented in questions/comments across the board
November 15, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
jennyrohn.bsky.social
I’ve noticed for years than men ask more questions than women @ science conferences…

“Women delivered 47.8% of presentations but accounted for only 36.4% of participations, significantly fewer than men both in absolute terms and relative to their representation among attendees.”

#MicroSky #IDSky
germhuntermd.bsky.social Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 13d
Gender differences in audience participation at infectious disease & microbiology conferences: a prospective observational study

@sarah-delliere.bsky.social #IDSky

Men overrepresented among audience participants during ID /micro meetings

www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.org/article/S119...
Proportion of participations made by men (yellow) and women (purple) according to various session and conference characteristics, including conference type, gender of the first intervenor, moderators' gender, speakers' gender, type of participation (comment vs. question), and conference gender attendance (>50% women). Percentages represent the share of each gender among total participations within each category. Dotted lign represents the global proportion of women attendees at conference. Men over represented in questions/comments across the board
November 15, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
rheumcat.bsky.social
Someone did the study I conceived in my head many times over while listening to the Q&A at conferences!

@alisonbays.bsky.social
@rheumepi.bsky.social
@nartherheumie.bsky.social
@kristenyoung.bsky.social
germhuntermd.bsky.social Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · 13d
Gender differences in audience participation at infectious disease & microbiology conferences: a prospective observational study

@sarah-delliere.bsky.social #IDSky

Men overrepresented among audience participants during ID /micro meetings

www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.org/article/S119...
Proportion of participations made by men (yellow) and women (purple) according to various session and conference characteristics, including conference type, gender of the first intervenor, moderators' gender, speakers' gender, type of participation (comment vs. question), and conference gender attendance (>50% women). Percentages represent the share of each gender among total participations within each category. Dotted lign represents the global proportion of women attendees at conference. Men over represented in questions/comments across the board
November 15, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
jammi-journal.bsky.social
Hey @idsky.bsky.social,

JAMMI, the Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Canada is now on Bluesky.

Give us a follow us for the latest on infectious diseases with a Canadian 🇨🇦 viewpoint.
a woman is holding a cup of coffee and the word exactly is above her
ALT: a woman is holding a cup of coffee and the word exactly is above her
media.tenor.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:49 PM
germhuntermd.bsky.social
Deep dive into the link between a fungus (chytrid) killing off frogs and health outcomes in humans

Yet another reason we should care more about fungi (& 🐸)

Gift link wapo.st/47Slsij
First, the frogs died. Then people got sick.
An emerging area of research is uncovering hidden links between nature and human health.
wapo.st
November 14, 2025 at 2:04 PM
germhuntermd.bsky.social
Gender differences in audience participation at infectious disease & microbiology conferences: a prospective observational study

@sarah-delliere.bsky.social #IDSky

Men overrepresented among audience participants during ID /micro meetings

www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.org/article/S119...
Proportion of participations made by men (yellow) and women (purple) according to various session and conference characteristics, including conference type, gender of the first intervenor, moderators' gender, speakers' gender, type of participation (comment vs. question), and conference gender attendance (>50% women). Percentages represent the share of each gender among total participations within each category. Dotted lign represents the global proportion of women attendees at conference. Men over represented in questions/comments across the board
November 14, 2025 at 1:31 PM
germhuntermd.bsky.social
Performance of Diagnostic Tests for Histoplasmosis Across Clinical Syndromes and Immune Statuses

Nico Barros et al @ MiraVista

academic.oup.com/ofid/advance...
Antigen concentration by disease severity and immune status
November 13, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
thelancetinfdis.bsky.social
New Review

British Society for Medical Mycology best practice recommendations for the diagnosis of serious fungal diseases: 2025 update

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
British Society for Medical Mycology best practice recommendations for the diagnosis of serious fungal diseases: 2025 update
The fungal diagnostic landscape is evolving; whereas previously, traditional culture-based methods dominated, most invasive fungal disease is now diagnosed with non-culture-based tests, including dire...
www.thelancet.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Reposted by Ilan Schwartz
id-journal.bsky.social
Fungal diagnostics are shifting from culture-based to non-culture tests (microscopy, antigen, antibody, molecular). Access and turnaround times vary in the UK. An expert group updated 2015 guidance.##idsky
[Review] British Society for Medical Mycology best practice recommendations for the diagnosis of serious fungal diseases: 2025 update
The fungal diagnostic landscape is evolving; whereas previously, traditional culture-based methods dominated, most invasive fungal disease is now diagnosed with non-culture-based tests, including direct microscopy, antigen, antibody, and molecular assays, supported by histopathology and radiology. Access to and turnaround time of diagnostic tests and their clinical implementation varies across the UK. The British Society for Medical Mycology convened an expert group to update its 2015 best practice guidance.
www.thelancet.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM