Spanish Team Showcases AMR Insights and Impact at SEIMC 2026.
From 28 to 30 May 2026, Bilbao - the vibrant Biscayan capital - became the epicenter of infectious diseases research and clinical microbiology in Spain as it hosted the 24th Congress of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC).
Attended by over 2,000 leading experts, the congress serves as a crucial platform for tackling today's most pressing global health challenges, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The REVERSE project was well represented at the event, with key members of our Spanish research teams stepping into the spotlight to share vital preliminary results and strategic insights aimed at optimising patient care and reducing the spread of multidrug-resistant infections.
An Insightful Session on Antibiotic Stewardship
On Friday, 29 May, the REVERSE team took the stage during Session SO-11: Antibitoic Stewardship in Hospitals and Primary Care (PROA). The project contributed three consecutive oral presentations, showcasing the breadth of our network's intervention strategies:
(R) Pilar Retamar Gentil
Optimising Care for High-Risk Patients: Claudia Vázquez Estévez (Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital) delivered Presentation 0102 titled "Impact of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme in High-Risk Haematology Patients with Febrile Neutropenia". Her insights underscored the importace of targeted stewardship in vulnerable patient populations.
Direct REVERSE Impact: Pilar Retamar-Gentil (Virgen Macarena University Hospital) presented Presentation 0104 entitled "Impact o the REVERSE Programme on Colonisation by Multuidrug-Resistant Microorganisms in Spanish Hospitals: Preliminary Results". This presentation offered an exciting look at how REVERSE's integrated strategies are successfully reducing colonisation rates.
Power of Rapid Diagnostics: Nerea Espinosa Alonso (Son Espases University Hospital) completed the lectures with Presentaion 0108: "Analysis of Missed Opportunities for Carbapenem-Sparing Through Rapid Molecular Diagnostics in Patients with Gram-negative Bacillary Bloodstream Infections: Preliminary Results". The data highlighted how sharper diagnostic tools can prevent the overuse of antibiotics.
Running parallel to this session were the Meet the Expert lectures, featuring three key figures speaking about infectious diseases at the forefront of innovation, showcasing successful independent clinical trials to guide clinical practise.
One of the featured experts - María Teresa Pérez Rodríguez from Vigo University Hospital - presented about the REVERSE project as an example of utilising new trial designs to increase efficiency and improve clinical practice.
Alligning the Network: The Investigators Meeting
Beyond the lecture halls, the congress provided valuable opportunity for face-to-face collaboration. Following the oral presentations, a dedicated REVERSE Investigtors Meeting took place. Bringing together the principle investigators and researchers attending SEIMC 2026, the meeting allowed the team to align on upcoming trial milestones, share operational best practices across participating Spanish sites, and discuss the broader rollout of REVERSE intervention bundles.
The strong presence of REVERSE Spain at the congress highlights the project's momentum as we continue to generate the data-driven evidence needed to reduce the burden of high-prevalence AMR across Europe.