Dear Colleagues,
NCIC recently made a strong impression at two major mycology events in Bilbao. At the TIMM conference (European Confederation of Medical Mycology), I participated in two plenary sessions, one reviewing the top 10 mycology papers and another on the updated response criteria for clinical trials of invasive fungal disease (IFD), where I presented on aspergillosis and moulds. NCIC’s work was referenced in several sessions, highlighting our global influence. The Women in Mycology event, organised by Ana Alastruey, brought together colleagues from the US, Europe, and India to celebrate and promote the contributions of women in mycology. These events showcase NCIC’s ongoing leadership in mycology, research and clinical practice and was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our international networks and collaborations.
Women in Mycology Event, Bilbao Spain organiser Ana Alastruey
Research Updates
NCIC Team Publishes Key Findings on Breakthrough Fungal Disease in Transplant Recipients
The NCIC team and collaborators have a new publication in Transplant Infectious Disease (Wiley). This single-center retrospective cohort study on 300 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients from January 2017 to May 2020, in which posaconazole modified release was the most common primary antifungal prophylaxis, demonstrated a breakthrough invasive fungal disease (bIFD) rate of 9%, with associated significant all-cause mortality at 12 weeks. Ongoing surveillance of IFD including resistant organisms is warranted to optimize treatment and patient outcome.
World Sepsis Day
“Sepsis can escalate within hours, particularly in cancer patients, so having a clear, evidence-based pathway is essential to keeping our most vulnerable patients safe”
Infectious Diseases nurses Belinda Lambros and Evona Fung recently visited wards and units across Peter Mac to thank our nursing and medical teams for their incredible work in recognising and responding to sepsis.
Belinda is Australia’s first accredited Nurse Practitioner specialising in infections in cancer, antimicrobial stewardship, allergy, and sepsis. She leads Peter Mac’s involvement in Safer Care Victoria’s Victorian Sepsis Program, a statewide initiative that supports fast, evidence-based treatment through a structured Sepsis Pathway. Peter Mac contributes cancer-specific expertise to help protect immunocompromised patients.
“Patients with cancer are up to ten times more likely to develop sepsis,” Belinda explains. “That’s why it’s so important that we recognise the signs early and act quickly.”
During her recent visit, Belinda spoke with one of her former patients who shared his experience with sepsis. He remembered feeling that something was very wrong but couldn’t describe exactly why. Subtle signs were not recognised early, and his condition worsened — leading to a four-month recovery before he was able to return home. Cases like this remind us of how sepsis awareness and early intervention and is critical.
Associate Professor Michelle Yong presented at the International Congress of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ICBMT 2025) in Busan, Korea
Her presentation, “CMV Infection in Allogeneic HSCT: Risk Stratification and Prevention”, focused on advances in prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus (CMV) management after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). She discussed the clinical benefits of identifying early risk factors for infectious complications and extending therapy to 200 days, highlighting the importance of prevention strategies in transplant patients.
Congratulations to Associate Professor Yong for representing the NCIC and sharing these important insights with the global transplant community!
NCIC Recent Publications
From Guesswork to Guidelines: Advancing Diagnostic Stewardship in Immunocompromised Hosts. Kinsella P, Thursky K, Slavin MA, Reynolds GK. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2025 Sep;23(9):723-737. doi:10.1080/14787210.2025.2545504. Epub 2025 Aug 18. PMID:40785091.
Management of Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with haematological malignancies and after cellular therapy: guidelines from 10th European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL-10). Mikulska M, Robin C, Neofytos D, Oltolini C, Piekarska A, Reigadas E, Gil L, Chemaly RF, Groll AH, Muñoz P, Teh BW. EClinicalMedicine. 2025 Aug 7;87:103371. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103371. Epub 2025 Sep. PMID:40823499. Free PMC article.
Innovation in active and passive immunisation of people who are immunocompromised: a call to action. Hill JA, Boonyaratanakornkit J, Mikulska M, Teh BW, Hahn WO, Haidar G, Liu C, Kumar D, Ison MG, Halasa N. Lancet Infect Dis. 2025 Aug 11:S1473-3099(25)00345-7. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00345-7. Epub 2025 Aug. PMID:40812340.
The Changing Epidemiology of Breakthrough Invasive Fungal Disease in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients in the Era of Modified-Release Posaconazole Prophylaxis. Tio SY, Neoh CF, Ritchie D, Chee L, Kong DCM, Worth LJ, Yong MK, Slavin MA. Transpl Infect Dis. 2025 Sep 26:e70104. doi: 10.1111/tid.70104. Epub 2025 Sep. PMID:41004247.
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Kind regards,
Prof Monica Slavin, MBBS, MD, FRACP, FAAHMS
Head, Department Infectious Disease, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Professor of Infection in Cancer and Transplantation, University of Melbourne Department of Infectious Diseases and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology
Director, National Centre for Infections in Cancer