Prevention, diagnosis, management of respiratory infections/exacerbation

Focusing on prevention approaches in COPD (including inhaled and non-inhaled advanced therapies, use of eosinophil biomarkers etc), approaches to distinguishing viral from bacterial infections (with associated implications for antibiotic stewardship) and an update on current understanding and approaches to managing long COVID syndromes.

• Options for exacerbation prevention in COPD and what we can additionally consider/offer in secondary care.

• Strategies for distinguishing viral and bacterial infections and optimum treatment approaches.

• Diagnosis and management of Post-COVID/Long-COVID syndromes.

Dr Aran Singanayagam completed his medical training at the University of Edinburgh in 2005 achieving distinction in his final examinations alongside a first-class intercalated BSc in physiology. He trained as a respiratory doctor within north-west London, primarily at St Mary’s, Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals.

During this time, Aran developed a clinical and academic interest in respiratory infections and airway diseases including asthma and COPD. His interest led to a Wellcome Trust clinical research PhD training fellowship in 2011-2014 studying the effects of the commonly used therapies inhaled corticosteroids on the immune response of the lungs to viral and bacterial infections. This work was recognised by the British Thoracic Society investigator award in 2015 and was published in the high-impact journals Nature Communications and Science Translational Medicine.