In this month's episode of Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine, we talk to Dr. Jacob Strahilevitz of the Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department at the Hadassah Medical Organization. Dr. Strahilevitz starts the podcast by sharing fascinating insights into a rare case in Israel where a patient was treated for Aeromonas bacteria following a crocodile bite.
He then discusses the rise of West Nile virus cases, particularly in the Tel Aviv region, and links the uptick to global warming.
Looking beyond West Nile, Dr. Strahilevitz raises awareness about other potential viruses and stresses the importance of proper vaccination before international travel. He also is concerned that while COVID-19 has dominated global health discussions, other infectious diseases remain under-prioritized, including the annual flu.
To combat these threats, Dr. Strahilevitz emphasizes Hadassah's critical role in researching and treating infectious diseases. We talk about how whole-genome sequencing helps scientists rapidly predict whether bacteria are resistant to antibiotics based on genetic information and the role of personalized treatment approaches to prevent further resistance from developing.
Tune in to hear more about the evolving landscape of infectious diseases and how we can better protect public health in Israel and around the world in the future.
Further learning:
- Professor Alon Moses, head of Hadassah's Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department: Protecting Hospitals and Patients From Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
- Monkeypox: Should We Hit the Panic Button? featuring Professor Alon Moses
- Dr. Ran Nir-Paz, senior infectious diseases physician: Face to Face With the Coronavirus
- HMO joins fight against infectious diseases in Ethiopia
- Hadassah Doctor Talks Phage Therapy on ContagionLive
Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine is a production of Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America. Hadassah enhances the health of people around the world through medical education, care and research innovations at the Hadassah Medical Organization. For more information on the latest advances in medicine, please head over to hadassah.org.
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The show is hosted by Maayan Hoffman and produced by the team at the Hadassah offices in New York and Israel.
This episode includes promotions for:
Our recent episode with Dr. Josh Schroeder
If you are enjoying this episode, you’ll want to check out our previous episode with Dr. Josh Schroeder, head of the Spinal Deformities Surgery Department at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem. Dr. Schroeder explores how spinal fractures can dramatically affect quality of life, particularly in older adults.
You can find that episode of Hadassah On Call on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or wherever you get your podcast. Or on the web at hadassah.org/hadassahoncall.
Together We Will Heal
When Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and war ensued, Hadassah responded immediately. Since then, the threat to Israel has escalated to include aggression from Hezbollah and Iran. To meet this unprecedented challenge, Hadassah hospitals must expand capacity to treat mass casualties and serve as a strong wartime asset to the people of Israel, and Hadassah's Youth Aliyah villages must continue to be a safe haven.
With your help, we can ensure that our hospitals and youth villages can continue to be ready and act swiftly to protect and heal. Every dollar counts. For more information or to donate, please visit hadassah.org/togetherwewillheal.
Together we will heal. B’yachad Nerapeh.