COVID-19 Webinar Series

COVID-19 Effective Treatments

The fourth in this series of ISAC Academy webinars reviewed the evidence on treatments for COVID-19. The three speakers discussed the treatment options and developing scientific evidence around the available treatment modalities. The challenge with treating COVID-19 appears to be managing the range of different pathologies from the initial viraemic insult to the immunological response to the infection. This webinar explored these issues.

Speakers / Topics

• Antiviral Treatment
  Prof. Ömrüm Uzun (Hacettepe University, Turkey)
  
• Convalesvcent plasma and antibody treatment 
  Prof. Yazdan Yazdanpanah (Paris Diderot University, France)
• Treatment of Hyperinflammatory Response in COVID-19
  Prof. Ahmet Gul (Istanbul University, Turkey)

COVID-19 Variants: what are they and what do they mean for the global pandemic 

As the pandemic has progressed, molecular epidemiology has been an important tool in monitoring the progress of the infection across the world. Novel variants of SARS-CoV2 have been identified and there has been much speculation about the characteristics of these variants in terms of transmissibility, pathogenicity and vaccine escape. This exciting webinar will explore these issues and the role of new virus variants in the development of the pandemic.

COVID-19 Vaccines

This timely ISAC webinar reviewed the three major vaccine candidates currently licensed for use. Three experts in their field who are also involved in their national vaccination programmes covered one of the vaccine types. This webinar was suitable for everyone including all infection specialists. The COVID-19 pandemic affects us all and it is important that we understand the new vaccines that are now available. 

COVID-19: Around the World in 80+ Minutes

This unique webinar brought a global view of the pandemic from those on the front-line in diverse parts of the world. It covered aspects of epidemiology and genomics, screening, control, treatment and consequences of infection. The speakers, all leaders in their fields, have a unique perspective of how the pandemic affects their regions.

 

 Regional and National MRSA Surveillance Programs Worldwide

This webinar was sponsored by the MRSA Working Group of the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC) to review national and regional surveillance programs for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The first meeting included brief presentations from laboratories in several countries that undertake MRSA surveillance. This was  followed by a period of moderated discussion to assess best practices. The goals were to understand the variety of approaches to surveillance worldwide and to develop principles that may underlie future harmonization of surveillance methods.