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Call for papers - Diagnostic and management of infections in immunocompromised patients

Guest Editors

Methee Chayakulkeeree, MD, PhD, Mahidol University, Thailand
Aristine Cheng, BM BCh, MA, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Johan Maertens, MD, PhD, KU Leuven & University Hospitals Leuven (UZ Leuven), Belgium

Submission Status: Open   |   Submission Deadline: 28 February 2025

BMC Infectious Diseases is calling for submissions to our Collection on Diagnostic and management of infections in immunocompromised patients. This Collection focuses on the complexities of diagnosing and managing infections in immunocompromised individuals, who are particularly vulnerable due to various medical conditions or treatments. We aim to advance our understanding and develop strategies in key areas, including the underlying causes of immunosuppression, innovative diagnostic techniques, effective therapeutic interventions, preventive measures, and the assessment of clinical outcomes. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and driving research, the goal is to refine strategies for improving patient care and outcomes for immunocompromised individuals.

New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

Meet the Guest Editors

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Methee Chayakulkeeree, MD, PhD, Mahidol University, Thailand

Dr Methee Chayakulkeeree is a Professor of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. Dr Chayakulkeeree is a board-certified infectious disease physician and the Masterly Fellow of the Royal College of Physician of Thailand (MFRCPT). He received research training at Duke University Medical Center in the USA related to infectious diseases and molecular mycology, and received his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Sydney, Australia. His research interests are focused on fungal infections and infection in immunocompromised hosts including transplant infectious diseases. Prof Chayakulkeeree is a Board Member of Asia Fungal Working Group (AFWG) and is affiliated with various local and international medical societies for infectious disease, including the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Transplant Infectious Disease (TID) section of The Transplant Society (TTS). He is also a Fellow of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (FECMM) and the country ambassador of the Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections (GAFFI). He has published more than 90 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and has written several book chapters on infectious diseases. 

Aristine Cheng, BM BCh, MA, National Taiwan University, Taiwan 

Dr Aristine Cheng is an infectious diseases physician and an associate professor of medicine in Taiwan. She graduated with distinction from Cambridge University. Following her graduation, Dr Cheng undertook post-graduate research at the prestigious National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. There, she focused on studying anti-cytokine autoantibodies, contributing significantly to the field. Through her dedicated efforts in both clinical practice and research, Dr Cheng has made notable contributions to the medical community, particularly in the field of infectious diseases. Her research focuses on mycobacterial diseases and adult-onset immunodeficiency.

Johan Maertens, MD, PhD, KU Leuven & University Hospitals Leuven (UZ Leuven), Belgium

Dr Johan Maertens is currently Associate Professor of Haematology at the University Hospitals Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg Leuven, Belgium. He is a member of numerous professional societies, including the International Immunocompromised Host Society, the International Society of Human and Animal Mycology, the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, the American Society of Hematology, the European Haematology Association, and a member of European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). He is a past-chair of the Infectious Diseases group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and a founding member and the current chair of the European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL) group. He is a fellow of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM). His major professional interest is fungal and viral infections in patients with haematological disorders, development of new management approaches to invasive aspergillosis, non-invasive diagnosis of opportunistic respiratory infections, and non-myeloablative and haplo-identical allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Dr Maertens has published over 500 articles and book chapters on antifungal management and diagnosis in several prestigious journals. He is a co-editor of the book “Diagnosis of Fungal Infections” and served as a reviewer for many journals and is a member of numerous national and international advisory boards. 

About the Collection

BMC Infectious Diseases is calling for submissions to our Collection on Diagnostic and management of infections in immunocompromised patients.

Immunocompromised individuals, due to various medical conditions or therapeutic interventions, face heightened susceptibility to infections, posing significant challenges in diagnosis and management. Understanding the complexities of infectious diseases in immunocompromised individuals is crucial, not only for optimizing patient care but also for advancing public health initiatives aimed at reducing the burden of infectious complications in vulnerable populations.

We invite contributions aimed at advancing our understanding and refining strategies for the diagnosis and management of infections in immunocompromised patients. We seek to explore the complex landscape of infections in individuals with compromised immune systems. Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Immunocompromised states: examination of the various causes and mechanisms underlying immunosuppression, including but not limited to solid-organ transplant recipients, individuals with hematologic malignancies, HIV/AIDS patients, and those with primary immunodeficiency disorders
  • Diagnostic innovations: novel techniques and methodologies for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases in immunocompromised patients, including the use of advanced molecular diagnostics, imaging modalities, and biomarker identification
  • Management strategies: evaluation of therapeutic interventions for infections in immunocompromised individuals, including antimicrobial agents, immunomodulatory therapies, and supportive care measures tailored to specific patient populations
  • Preventive approaches: exploration of preventive strategies, such as vaccination protocols, antimicrobial prophylaxis regimens, and infection control measures aimed at reducing the risk of infectious complications in immunocompromised patients
  • Clinical outcomes: assessment of clinical outcomes, including morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization, in immunocompromised individuals with infectious diseases, with a focus on identifying factors associated with improved patient outcomes and quality of life


In this Collection, we aim to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and drive innovation in the field of infectious diseases, ultimately striving for improved outcomes and enhanced quality of care for immunocompromised individuals. This Collection supports and amplifies research related SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.
 

Image credit: © Talia Mdlungu/peopleimages.com / stock.adobe.com

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Diagnostic and management of infections in immunocompromised patients" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.