title: Steps forward in LRTI and tuberculosis: update from the ERS Respiratory Infections Assembly.
abstract: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and tuberculosis are among the leading reasons for seeking medical care. In the present report, the most recent advances in the fields of clinical research and basic science of LRTIs and tuberculosis are presented through analysis of some of the best abstracts presented at the 18th European Respiratory Society Annual Congress in Berlin. The role of viruses in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations and the importance of new biomarkers in the diagnosis of bacterial infections in LRTI are discussed. New tools for the diagnosis of latent and active tuberculosis in special subgroups of patients (children, immunocompromised individuals, etc.), and the new epidemiological threat of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis cases is analysed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Respiratory Diseases, University of Milan, Ospedale Maggiore Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico, Milan, Italy. francesco.blasi@unimi.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blasi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cosentini
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Migliori
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boersma
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers