College of Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA.
Clin Infect Dis. 2023 Dec 15;77(12):1644-1647. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciad427.
Despite more than a century of research on the link between infection and chronic diseases, we again find ourselves flummoxed by a new pathogen that causes long-term impairment. Patients have reported being ignored or minimized, resources are lacking for diagnosis and treatment, and frustrated individuals are turning outside of the scientific profession for answers. The experience mirrors that of American Society for Microbiology past president Alice C. Evans. Accidentally infected with Brucella melitensis during her laboratory research, Evans was chronically ill for more than 20 years, during which time friends, colleagues, and physicians cast doubt on her illness. As a result, she argued passionately for improved diagnostics and for those who reported chronic infection to be taken seriously rather than presumed to be "malingering" or using their illness for financial benefit. Lessons from Evans' experience are useful as we work toward understanding long COVID and patients suffering from the condition.
尽管我们对感染与慢性疾病之间的关系进行了一个多世纪的研究，但我们再次被一种新的病原体所困扰，这种病原体导致了长期的损害。患者报告说他们被忽视或轻视，诊断和治疗资源匮乏，而感到沮丧的患者则转向科学界以外寻求答案。这种经历与美国微生物学会前任主席爱丽丝·埃文斯（Alice C. Evans）的经历如出一辙。埃文斯在实验室研究中意外感染了布鲁氏菌（Brucella melitensis），她长期患病 20 多年，在此期间，朋友、同事和医生对她的病情表示怀疑。因此，她强烈主张改进诊断方法，并呼吁认真对待那些报告慢性感染的人，而不是假设他们是“装病”或利用自己的疾病谋取经济利益。在我们努力了解长新冠和患有该病的患者时，埃文斯的经验教训是有用的。
