Armed conflicts, the migratory movement of millions of people, Artificial Intelligence and the threats to the sustainability of the planet are a few examples of a constantly changing world, which have a brutal impact and raise significant challenges in terms of infection prevention and control. It is in this context that Luz Saúde Group organizes the 14 th edition of its International Congress of Infection Control and Antimicrobial Resistance , which will take place the next March 1, with the participation of renowned national and international specialists. “The goal is to analyse and discuss these challenges. We know, for instance, that certain outbreaks of disease in Europe are connected with the migration of populations from countries with low vaccination and exposure to different types of bacteria. What should we do in face of this reality? We must have strategies and new ways of approach”, explains Carlos Palos , the director of the congress. “On one hand, it is inevitable to experience a new pandemic originated by a disease, which we haven’t yet identified (we call it the X Disease) and there is work already underway towards discovering new vaccines and treatments to control such a disease. So, let us learn more about what is being done”, he adds. The meeting is, thus, destined to every manager, professional and student in the area of health, with special emphasis on those who work or have an interest in the field of infection prevention and control. Right at the opening, the state of play on infection, antimicrobial resistance and consumption in Portugal will be made, with the presentation of the latest data by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The congress will then proceed focusing on the following topic areas: Wars and migration (where the major challenges that we face will be approached, the infectious diseases in migrants in Portugal and their access to healthcare). Artificial Intelligence in PCI and RAM (a new world of solutions and a few examples of the digital transformation underway). Outbreak management (the role of the emergency service, the whole genome sequencing, and how to improve the response of teams). Sustainability in infection prevention and control (reprocessing of single-use medical devices, and the use of personal protective equipment in a sustainable way). Eskild Petersen, professor emeritus of the Aarhus University (Denmark) and coordinator of the ESCMID (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) task force to follow up on the emerging infectious diseases, is the special guest of this congress. Besides intervening in the first round-table, he will give a conference on “X Disease: act now and prepare for the next pandemic threat” . Will also be speakers other renowned specialists with work in the different areas faced with infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial resistance: Duarte Nuno Vieira (forensic consultant to the UN, among other roles), Inês Casquilho Martins (Lusíada University), Jennifer Collins (coordinator of the project Global Green and Healthy Hospitals), João Queiroz e Melo (pioneering cardiologist of heart transplants in Portugal), Patrícia Pacheco (director of Infectology of Hospital Fernando Fonseca), Raquel Sá Leão (Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology – ITQB Nova) and Rodrigo Pires dos Santos (Hospital-Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil). Registration and full program
