New developments in infectious disease
Hot topicsChairs: F. Blasi (Milan, Italy), M. Woodhead (Manchester, United Kingdom)
Aims: This symposium will review recent and hot issues in infectious diseases:
• Neo-macrolides have emerged as important therapeutic options in different airway diseases. They seem to have beneficial effects in a broad spectrum of diseases from COPD to cystic fibrosis and posttransplant bronchiolitis obliterans. Their mechanism of action is not yet elucidated; however, several possible pathways have been proposed.
• Comparison of national programmes in preparation for pandemic; strategies for limiting local dissemination; spatial epidemiology; efficacy of antiviral therapies; summary of challenges in vaccine development (including arguments for and against stockpiling early prototype vaccine).