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Alfred Luk

@alukmd.bsky.social

1.2K followers 130 following 20 posts

Transplant Infectious Disease physician at Tulane via NYU ID and SUNY Downstate IM. #IDSky #TxID

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · Nov 19

Transplant at Tulane is growing! We’re also starting a thoracic transplant program. Looking for an experienced transplant ID physician to join me and our team at @TulaneMedicine . DM for questions

apply.interfolio.com/157421

#TxID #IDSky @txidfellows.bsky.social

Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio

apply.interfolio.com

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · Aug 19

Aspergillus by @glaucomflecken.bsky.social

Random Education: Aspergillus

YouTube video by Dr. Glaucomflecken

youtube.com

Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · Aug 5

For the awake and dedicated. 7am session - top papers in transplant ID. #TxID #WTC2025

Reposted by Alfred Luk

Joanna Schaenman, MD, PhD @jschaenmanmd.bsky.social · Aug 3

Don't miss the new @amjtransplant.bsky.social #TxID blog led by Emily Blumberg ajt-transplant-id-exchange.squarespace.com #wtc2025 @ast-idcop.bsky.social @ast-tyfcop.bsky.social @astinfo.bsky.social

AJT Transplant ID Exchange

ajt-transplant-id-exchange.squarespace.com

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

AST IDCOP @ast-idcop.bsky.social · Aug 4

Dr. Robert (Bob) Rubin Transplant ID Award Recipient for 2025 is the amazing @kottonnelson.bsky.social !!! #TxID #MedEd @astinfo.bsky.social

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Joanna Schaenman, MD, PhD @jschaenmanmd.bsky.social · Aug 3

Packed house at talk on #MDR challenging cases at #WTC2025 - clearly a growing concern in #TxID #IDSky discussion of ceftaz avi plus aztreonam v cefidericol for CRE @ast-idcop.bsky.social @txidfellows.bsky.social @astinfo.bsky.social @ttsorg.bsky.social

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · Jul 22

Accuracy of plasma cell-free DNA PCR for non-invasive diagnosis of mucormycosis

@jordan1990.bsky.social and colleagues at Stanford

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Accuracy of plasma cell-free DNA PCR for non-invasive diagnosis of mucormycosis | Journal of Clinical Microbiology

Mucormycosis is an invasive mold infection associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and effective antifungal treatment are critical for improving clinical outcomes. However, diagn...

journals.asm.org

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · Jul 29

Lack of Association Between Histoplasma Urine Antigen Values and Clinical Response in Persons without HIV

Marisa Miceli and colleagues

academic.oup.com/ofid/advance...

Lack of Association Between Histoplasma Urine Antigen Values and Clinical Response in Persons without HIV

AbstractBackground. Histoplasma urine antigen detection, a valuable diagnostic tool, is often used to monitor response to antifungal therapy, but persisten

academic.oup.com

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · May 13

Outcomes of Invasive Aspergillosis in Liver Transplant Recipients From an Institution Using Targeted Antifungal Prophylaxis and an Antifungal Stewardship Program

Duke TxID fellow Brennan Collis and co from Melbourne

IA was uncommon, mortality low in LiTx

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Outcomes of Invasive Aspergillosis in Liver Transplant Recipients From an Institution Using Targeted Antifungal Prophylaxis and an Antifungal Stewardship Program

Background Recent evidence suggests liver transplant recipients (LiTRs) with invasive aspergillosis (IA) have lower rates of dissemination and mortality compared to historical data. However, contemp...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · Apr 23

Registration link: cmvstream.com

CMV Stream 2025 - CMV STREAM

Live Online! CMV Management in Solid Organ Transplantation Insights and Challenges from the New 4th Consensus Guidelines Friday, April 25th, 2025 3:00 PM EST REGISTER NOW Register Now Days Hours Minut...

cmvstream.com

Reposted by Alfred Luk

Melissa Johnson @idpharmacist.bsky.social · Mar 24

🍄🍄Happy to share the link to free full text version of our new article in press: Current Antifungals and the Developing Pipeline with the fantastic @moorewjustin.bsky.social. #IDSky #PharmSky Thank you to the editors @drluiso.bsky.social @alukmd.bsky.social & Dr. Helen Boucher for the opportunity.

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Nico Barros @nicobarrosid.bsky.social · Mar 10

Update on the Clinical Practice Guidelines for treatment of Histoplasmosis. Thank you to all the authors @fungaldoc.bsky.social @germhuntermd.bsky.social @jobadd.bsky.social @iddoc4kids.bsky.social Nathan Bahr

www.idsociety.org/practice-gui...

Histoplasmosis (2025)

www.idsociety.org

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · Mar 7

Facts and myths about measles

@thelancetinfdis.bsky.social @hoferu.bsky.social

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Facts and myths about measles

It seems ironic that Robert F Kennedy Jr, one of the most prominent antivaccine activists, has been made Secretary of Health and Human Services in the USA while one of the largest recent measles outbr...

www.thelancet.com

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Steven Pergam, MD, MPH @pergamic.bsky.social · Mar 5

New upcoming seminar from TTS to address a growing concern in the immunocompromised community: Measles

tts.org/116-tts/educ...

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · Mar 6

😱

Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · Mar 5

Was an honor to work with @drluiso.bsky.social and all the amazing authors who contributed to this issue!

Luis Ostrosky, MD, FIDSA @drluiso.bsky.social · Mar 3

It’s out! A pleasure to work with @alukmd.bsky.social on the latest #fungal update of the ID Clinics of North America. I rembember saving money as a med student to buy them… #FullCircle #IDSky #MedSky

Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · Mar 4

What’s at stake with proposed health research funding cuts?

Good explainer by Lizzy Knippler, Community Engagement Coordinator at the Duke CFAR. Please share these graphics widely!

SCIENCE IN PERIL

Research funding at risk

UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH COSTS

Research requires funding for both direct costs (like lab supplies) and Facilities & Administrative (F&A) costs.

F&A covers essential expenses that support research but aren't tied to a single project, such as...

IT and cybersecurity for data protection

Laboratory space and utilities

Administrative support for grants and operations

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF F&A COST REIMBURSEMENT RATES ARE CUT?

Research institutions will lose millions of dollars to do critical research

THE IMPACTS WOULD BE DEVASTATING.

Fewer clinical trials, delaying new treatments

Slowed scientific discovery and innovation

Weakened local economies and research-driven industries

Job cuts and fewer opportunities to train future leaders

Previous F&A cost reimbursement rates varied by institution. Rates averaged around 28%, but some organizations had negotiated rates over 60%.

Costs vary widely, with rates set based on factors like institution size, location, and rent or utility costs.

HOW IS RESEARCH AT RISK?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a policy change that limits F&A cost funding to 15% for both new and existing grants.

The policy drastically cuts essential federal support for biomedical research.

A group of universities and states filed a lawsuit claiming the funding cuts are illegal.

A federal judge temporarily paused the funding cuts, but F&A costs remain at risk.

Scientists and the public are speaking out to share how important it is to maintain funding for research and innovation.

RESEARCH SAVES LIVES.

NOW, WE MUST SAVE RESEARCH

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · Feb 9

The link doesn’t seem to be working?

Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · Feb 7

I am deeply disappointed by the subdued response of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (@idsainfo.bsky.social) to the dismantling of public health structures, both in the US & globally

Here's what I wrote in the closed listserv (response: 🦗) in hopes of stimulating discussion here #IDSky

Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, the administration continues to charge ahead, running roughshod over norms, laws, and the dignity of and most basic protections for the people most vulnerable to infections. Many of the changes are summarized here, up to date as of Feb 4. Who will speak up, or better still, ACT UP for these individuals?

The National Science Foundation has reportedly shared with program officers a list of forbidden "DEI"-related words that will result in grants being flagged. These include routinely used terms like "female", "biased", "systemic", "inclusion" and "exclusion" along with other words that specifically target vulnerable populations. While few clinical researchers rely on NSF grants, it can be reasonably expected that similar censorship with grants from NIH, CDC, etc is inevitable.
USAID funding remains frozen, and in fact there are reports of efforts underway to eliminate the entire agency. The effects have already been devastating for programs dedicated to controlling TB, malaria, and HIV, among others. Despite claims that these would be exempt, distribution of antiretrovirals remains frozen.
The Senate Finance committee advanced RFK Jr for confirmation as HHS Secretary. Kennedy's disdain for evidence-based medicine is no secret. He is a conspiracy theorist who engages in dangerous race-based pseudoscience. The IDSA has fallen short of other professional societies (e.g. the American Public Health Association, which represents 25,000 public health professionals) in calling for the outright rejection of RFK Jr's nomination.
The CDC and NIH remain muzzled, unable to communicate with interstate or international agencies or the public. They have been instructed to recall submitted or accepted manuscripts to scrub objectionable language. They remain barred from traveling until at least the end of April. How will these actions affect our ability to detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks?

Meanwhile, our members are experiencing significant moral injury, and some have expressed levels of morale that rival the nadirs felt during the worst of COVID19. Every day it is a new insult, the cumulative effect being the disassembly of public health protections and further marginalization of the most vulnerable in society.

Reticence to call attention to ourselves, potentially putting our work in the administration's cross hairs, is entirely understandable. After all, we don't want to imperil existing and ongoing advocacy efforts, including those related to bolstering the ID workforce. A sober analysis would concede that the likelihood of any potential actions moving the needle on any of these issues is low. I would argue, however, that standing up for what is right is the most important thing we can do to reinforce our commitment to social justice and to our members and the patients in our care.

What we can do and how we can do it is up for debate; some bold ideas have already been presented in the IDea exchange forum and I welcome further input from colleagues. What is certain is that as rank-and-file individuals, our voices can easily be dismissed, but as a trusted, bipartisan professional organization that represents >13,000 infectious diseases experts, we cannot be ignored, and we must not allow ourselves to cower in silence. The reality is that things are going to get worse, and standing up to the assault on public health will only get more difficult as the administration becomes further emboldened and the actions set in motion gather steam.

In the words of John Lewis, "If not us, then who? If not now, then when?"

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · Feb 5

Would global warming bring an increase of invertebrate-associated cutaneous invasive fungal infections?

Kontoyiannis & Casadevall

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

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Alfred Luk @alukmd.bsky.social · Jan 29

Congratulations 🎉

Reposted by Alfred Luk

Mohanad Al-Obaidi @mycosis.bsky.social · Jan 25

Great work by CDC (Mycotic Diseases Branch) and @grthompsonmd.bsky.social. Healthcare data analysis evaluating fluc efficacy on pulmonary #coccidioidomycosis in immunocompetent patients. Again, fluc is not effective.
#IDSky #MedMyco

Impact of fluconazole on outcomes of patients with primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis: a commercial health insurance claims-based, propensity score matched analysis

AbstractBackground. Patients with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis often experience prolonged symptoms lasting weeks to months. Limited data exist regarding wh

academic.oup.com

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Camille Nelson Kotton @kottonnelson.bsky.social · Dec 2

The ACIP 2025 vaccine schedule for adults by medical condition (as well as age) is now available - with some great updates www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp...

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · Jan 17

Evaluation of Viracor Fungal Plus PCR Profile I @MSKCC

"In our cohort, PCR targeting Mucorales and Nocardia can improve the early detection of invasive pulmonary infection, whereas Aspergillus PCR has a low added value"

@fungalspore.bsky.social @ebabady.bsky.social
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Figure 2. Patients with proven or probable invasive pulmonary Aspergillus by diagnosis methods.

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Reposted by Alfred Luk

Timothy Li @drtimothyli.bsky.social · Jan 17

Summary of new antibiotic agents for the treatment of MDR Gram negative bacterial infections

doi.org/10.1016/S014...

#IDSky

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