Archived press releases
You will find all of the Society's press releases going back from 2013 to 2009.
PRESS RELEASE 23rd ECCMID: 27 April 2013 Europeans Largest Conference on Infectious Disease and Microbiology (27 - 30 April 2013, Berlin, Germany)
Europe’s largest conference on infectious diseases opens today in Berlin with more than 10,000 experts gathering to share latest knowledge and practice to improve the fight against infectious diseases in Europe and around the world.
Press kit ECCMID 2013
- ECCMID press release download file
- ECCMID summary of abstract selections for media download file
- Media briefing on hot topics download file
- Abbreviations list download file
- Chronology on infectious diseases and infection control download file
- Press briefing media advisory note download file
PRESS RELEASE : 27 April 2013 Award given to international expert at a time of growing alarm about antibiotic resistance
At a time when there is growing alarm about increasing antibiotic resistance, Professor Patrice Nordmann is being honoured for his work in emerging resistance worldwide to antibiotics, mostly to carbapenems (a class of antibiotics often regarded as a last line of treatment when other antibiotics fail). He will receive the Excellence Award from the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).
PRESS RELEASE : 3 April 2012 Flu, mutations and transmission: to publish or not to publish?
As the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) - the world’s largest conference on infectious diseases - draws to a close, a late-breaking symposium will focus on the mutant H5N1 avian flu viruses recently created by researchers at two leading influenza laboratories in the US and Netherlands.
PRESS RELEASE : 3 April 2012 Preparing for Infectious Diseases at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games
Less than four months ahead of this year’s Summer Olympics in London, the 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (22nd ECCMID)—the world’s largest conference on infectious diseases—will feature a final-day symposium focusing on mass gatherings health. Currently the subject of a six-article series in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, which is co-sponsoring the symposium, the multidisciplinary speciality traces its origins to the study of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
PRESS RELEASE 22nd ECCMID: 31 March 2012 Europeans Largest Conference on Infectious Disease and Microbiology (31 March - 3 April, London, United Kingdom)
Europe’s largest conference on infectious diseases opens today in London with more than 8,500 experts gathering to share latest knowledge and practice to improve the fight against infectious diseases in Europe and around the world.
Press kit ECCMID 2012
- ECCMID press release download file
- ECCMID summary of abstract selections for media download file
- Speaker bios download file
- Abbreviations list download file
- Chronology on infectious diseases and infection control download file
- Press information for media download file
- Press briefing media advisory note download file
Media Advisory 22nd ECCMID 31 March - 3 April, London, United Kingdom Europeans Largest Conference on Infectious Disease and Microbiology
The 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (22nd ECCMID) runs from 31 March – 3 April 2012 in London. Organised by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), the conference attracts more than 8,500 experts from across the spectrum of the field, including, for the first time, specialists in the new area of mass gatherings health—a fitting addition to the agenda as London prepares for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
PRESS RELEASE : 18 September 2011 Voluntary organizations help create global shield against antibiotic resistance
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the top three global health threats to mankind. To spur global action, the Alliance for Prudent Use of Antibiotics (APUA) is today presenting the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) and its President, Professor Giuseppe Cornaglia, with its 2011 Leadership Award at its 30th anniversary reception at the International Congress for Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC).
PRESS RELEASE : 3 June 2011 As E coli outbreak in Germany continues, experts are concerned about pressure on health facilities, antibiotic resistance and preparedness across Europe
As the current virulent Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) outbreak in Germany spreads, experts from The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) are concerned not only about the pressure health facilities are being put under, but also the use of antibiotics and broader implications for preparedness across Europe to cope, both now and in the future. download press release
PRESS RELEASE 21st ECCMID: 7 May 2011 Europeans Largest Conference on Infectious Disease and Microbiology (7-10 May 2011, Milan, Italy)
Europe’s largest conference on infectious diseases opens today in Milan with more than 8,500 experts gathering to share latest knowledge and practice to improve the fight against infectious diseases in Europe and around the world.
Press kit ECCMID 2011
- ECCMID press release download file
- ESCMID/The Lancet ID press release NDM-1 download file
- ECCMID summary of abstract selections for media download file
- Speaker bios download file
- Abbreviations list download file
- Chronology on infectious diseases and infection control download file
- ESCMID Flyer download file
- Press information for media download file
- Press briefing media advisory note download file
PRESS RELEASE : 7 April 2011 A World Health Day on antibiotic resistance is timely as human health is seriously being threatened by misuse and limited drug pipeline
The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) welcomes the focus on drug resistance for this year’s World Health Day as it is an issue that the Society has been proactively working on for the past 25 years. download press release
PRESS RELEASE : 1 April 2011 Experts gather to focus on the role of vaccines in public health at a time of increasing anti-vaccine rhetoric and complacency
International experts gather in Prague today for a three day meeting focused on the impact of vaccines on public health, at a time of increasing concern that public scepticism and complacency could undermine the positive impact of current and future vaccine campaigns.
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PRESS RELEASE : 06 January 2011 Impact of flu vaccine opt-out is being seen as A(H1N1) returns to Europe
As the UK and a number of European countries are now experiencing
epidemics of influenza, including A(H1N1), which was the 2009 pandemic virus, the ESCMID warns that the consequences of non-vaccination could emerge as a new flu emergency and are calling for greater efforts to encourage vaccination, not only for at risk groups, but also health care workers.
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PRESS RELEASE : 12 August 2010 Report of new “superbugs” emphasises ill-preparedness across Europe to meet this emerging public health challenge
Research just published that identifies new highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria reinforces the frequency with which similar strains of so-called “superbugs” are being discovered across Europe.
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PRESS RELEASE : 23 April 2010 3rd International Day for Fighting Infection
Hospital acquired infections are the focus for the 3rd International Day for Fighting Infection, being marked on St. George’s Day, as experts meet to look at the evolution of infection control in hospitals.
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PRESS RELEASE: 15 APRIL 2010 Announcement of new President for ESCMID
The ESCMID President, Professor Javier Garau has expressed his wish to resign from his position as President of the Society and from the Executive Committee for personal reasons.
Professor Garau has been our President since 2009 and has served the Society for five years, holding the positions of Education Officer, Secretary General and now President. His drive and creativity will be sorely missed by all members of the Executive Committee and by ESCMID staff and colleagues.
The ESCMID bylaws (see below) stipulate that when an incumbent President leaves his post permanently, irrespective of the reason, the Past President takes over the office of President. The Executive Committee members welcome our past president Giuseppe Cornaglia as their new leader.
-The ESCMID Executive Committee
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Relevant section of the ESCMID Bylaws (full statutes available here)
§ 4 Officers of the Society
1. President
The President will be the chief executive officer of the Society and will chair all meetings of the Executive Committee.
...
In the case of a temporary absence or disability of the President, the President-elect will have all the powers and perform all the duties of the President. Should the President be permanently disabled the Past President will assume his/her responsibilities.
PRESS RELEASE 20th ECCMID: 10 April 2010 Europeans Largest Conference on Infectious Disease and Microbiology (10-13 April 2010, Vienna)
Europe’s largest conference on infectious diseases opens today in Vienna with more than 8,000 experts gathering to share latest knowledge and practice to improve the fight against infectious diseases in Europe and around the world.
Press kit ECCMID 2010
- ECCMID press release download file
- ECCMID summary of abstract selections for media download file
- Speaker bios download file
- Abbreviations list download file
- Chronology on infectious diseases and infection control download file
- ESCMID Flyer download file
PRESS RELEASE: 10 April 2010 One year on experts look at the H1N1 response and lessons for the future
One year on since the first cases of pandemic H1N1 influenza were confirmed in April 2009, experts gathered at Europe’s largest conference on infectious diseases – the European Congress on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) - look back at the public health response and identify both lessons learnt and future recommendations.
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PRESS RELEASE: 10 April 2010 High-tech consortium on track to seek out and destroy Europe’s “superbugs”
The war against antibiotic resistance is now gaining momentum, as a consortium of 14 European institutes celebrates its first year of molecular scrutiny of the pathogens posing imminent health threats. The TROCAR (Translational Research On Combating Antimicrobial Resistance) consortium ...
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PRESS RELEASE: 23 November 2009 As influenza cases rise in Europe, experts urge uptake of H1N1 vaccine in the face of opposition and skepticism, and point to the public health and individual benefits of vaccines
Whilst rates of influenza, particularly the new H1N1 strain, increase in intensity and geographical spread across Europe, the roll out of the vaccination campaigns is receiving mixed levels of uptake and opposition from anti-vaccine campaigners that puts at risk public health and lives.
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PRESS RELEASE: 5 November 2009 U.S. and European Experts Applaud Creation of New Transatlantic Task Force on Global Antibiotic Resistance Threat
ESCMID and IDSA applaud President Barack Obama and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, representing the European Union (EU) Presidency, for establishing a transatlantic task force to address antibiotic resistance, an urgent and growing problem that threatens patient safety and public health worldwide.
PRESS RELEASE: 21 July 2009 European travellers continue to put their health at risk
European travellers are still putting their health at risk says the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), with one third experiencing travel-related illness when visiting abroad. On a typical two-week trip, travellers lose an average of three days due to illness - almost 20 percent of them remain ill after their return home, and another 10 percent need medical care.
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PRESS RELEASE: 19 May 2009 ECCMID late breaker session on Swine Flu

Should we expect the unexpected from Influenza? The webcast for the late-breaker session on Swine Flu is now freely available on the website.
ESCMID/The Lancet press release
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PRESS RELEASE: 18 May 2009 New Executive Committee 2009-2011
Javier Garau was inaugurated as the new ESCMID President at the Assembly of Members. New board members, Winfried Kern and Evelina Tacconelli, took office. Ragnar Norrby's and Andreas Voss's terms in the Committee ended.
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PRESS RELEASE 19th ECCMID: 16 May 2009 Europeans Largest Conference on Infectious Disease and Microbiology (16-19 May 2009, Helsinki)
The European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) is Europeans largest conference on these issues bringing 8,000 – 10,000 medical colleagues, scientific experts and industry representatives together to look at topics ranging from drug resistance to infection control.
A late breaker session at ECCMID on influenza A H1N1 has been co-organized by ESCMID and The Lancet. Video highlights from the session are availableon Wednesday 20 May 2009 from www.escmid.org and www.TheLancet.com/H1N1-flu.
Press kit ECCMID 2009


- ECCMID press release download file
- ECCMID summary of abstract selections for media download file
- Speaker bios download file
- Abbreviations list download file
- Chronology on infectious diseases and infection control download file
- ESCMID Flyer download file
PRESS RELEASE: 30 April 2009 ESCMID statement on Swine Flu

As the world reacts to the appearance of human cases of Swine Influenza A (H1N1), ESCMID calls for vigilance and international networking.
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PRESS RELEASE: 23 April 2009 2nd International Day for Fighting Infection on 23 April 2009
On the 2nd International Day for Fighting Infection experts say both hospitals and the public need to be as vigilant as ever against infection.
PRESS RELEASE: 24 March 2009 Stopping tuberculosis: World TB Day on 24 March 2009
ESCMID President’s message on World TB Day: Drug-resistant tuberculosis is not being addressed sufficiently and poses a formidable challenge for the therapeutic treatment in Europe and beyond.
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Press kit ECCMID 2009
- ECCMID press release embargoed 16 May download file
- ECCMID summary of abstract selections for media download file
- Media notice with time/location of press briefing download file
- FAQ media at ECCMID download file
- Speaker bios download file
- Abbreviations list download file
- Chronology on infectious diseases and infection control download file
- ESCMID Flyer download file