The “40th ANKEM Congress on Rational Antibiotic Use”, hosted by Near East University and organized in collaboration with the Association of Antibiotics and Chemotherapy (ANKEM), was successfully completed with an intensive and comprehensive scientific program that lasted four days. The congress, which set out with the slogan “Vaccinate for health, use antibiotics rationally”, addressed critical issues such as conscious antibiotic use in infectious diseases, current epidemic disease assessments, vaccination strategies, and management of surgical and intensive care infections in depth.
The congress, which lasted for four days, provided participants with a platform to share and discuss the latest scientific developments through interactive sessions, expert panels, oral and poster presentations. The valuable studies presented at the congress, which ended with general evaluations in the closing session, will be published as articles and shared with the scientific world, thus contributing significantly to the dissemination of knowledge.
The congress was co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Sebahat Aksaray from the Health Sciences University and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Buket Baddal, a faculty member at the Near East University Faculty of Medicine and a researcher at the DESAM Research Institute, while the general secretaries were Prof. Dr. Dolunay Gülmez from the Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine and Prof. Dr. Emrah Ruh from the Near East University Faculty of Medicine. The opening speeches of the congress were made by Near East University President Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, ANKEM Association President Prof. Dr. Bülent Gürler, and Congress Co-Chair Prof. Dr. Sebahat Aksaray.
Artistic Reflections of Artificial Intelligence and Epidemics Featured on the First Day of the Congress
The first day of the congress began with a special section titled “ANKEM Square”. Then, in the first session, under the title of “Epidemics and Art”, the profound effects of epidemic periods throughout history on art and the important roles that art plays in times of social crisis were evaluated from different perspectives. Another notable event of the day was the “Enver Tali Çetin Conference”. Organized under the theme of “Innovative Approaches in Healthcare”, this conference discussed in detail the transformative effects of many innovative approaches, from digital health solutions to recent developments in biotechnology and artificial intelligence-supported health systems, on the quality and accessibility of health services.
Another session that attracted great attention on the first day of the congress was titled “Artificial Intelligence, Fuzzy Logic and Mathematical Modeling Applications in Healthcare”. In this panel, the potential roles and contributions of artificial intelligence and multi-criteria decision-making methods in diagnosis and treatment processes were examined in depth. In addition, the critical importance of mathematical modeling in monitoring and managing epidemics and its application areas were conveyed to the participants with various presentations.
Current Approaches to Infectious Diseases and the Importance of Vaccination Emphasized
The second day of the congress began with an important session titled “Evaluation and Management of Urinary Tract Infections in Children.” Following this session, a conference was held emphasizing the basic principles of rational antibiotic use. In the first panel of the day, current infection threats encountered in intensive care units, especially bacterial and fungal infections, were discussed in detail by experts. Then, in another panel, surgical prophylaxis practices and perioperative infection management were discussed within the scope of evaluation and management of surgical infections. In the satellite symposium held at noon, the question “Race Against Time: When Should We Use Syndromic Tests?” was answered through different clinical scenarios. In the afternoon panel, important topics such as the current status of pediatric and adult vaccination, newly developed vaccines, vaccination strategies for healthcare professionals and pregnant women, and vaccination approaches for cancer and transplant patients were comprehensively evaluated. A conference held later in the day addressed the transformative effects of biotechnological developments in the management of infectious diseases, while the final panel focused on the current status of sexually transmitted infections, particularly HIV, HPV and syphilis. The second day ended with a closing conference titled “DAS of Tomorrow: Innovation, Security and Data Management” and oral presentations by young researchers.
Infection Control and Foodborne Risks Taken Under the Scrutiny
The third day of the congress began with a session on “Ectoparasites”. The conference held immediately afterwards addressed infection risks, protection methods and management strategies in the use of biological agents. The first panel of the day detailed critical topics such as management of hospital infection outbreaks, the importance of molecular analyses and resistance mechanisms, hospital outbreaks caused by resistant bacteria and infection control practices, the role of the microbiology laboratory in preventing hospital outbreaks and molecular epidemiological management of hospital outbreaks based on cases. Following the panel, a conference focusing on foodborne infections was held. Later in the day, the conference and panel on fever management in children and sepsis and meningitis in newborns met with the participants. In the last session of the day, antiprotozoal drug resistance and alternative antimicrobial treatment options were discussed.
Scientific Publishing and Research Ethics Discussed on the Last Day of the Congress
The fourth and last day of the congress was shaped around the theme of scientific publishing. Following an interesting session titled “Interactive Meeting: How to Publish an Article?”, important panels were held on scientific research planning and research ethics, writing qualified scientific articles and publication ethics, and predatory journals. These sessions aimed to guide young researchers in the scientific publication process and raise awareness of ethical principles.
Near East University Rector: We are Solution Partners in the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance
In his opening speech at the congress, Near East University President Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ emphasized that antibiotics are one of the most important achievements of modern medicine and drew attention to the serious health problems caused by the unconscious and widespread use of antibiotics. Stating that Near East University is not only a host but also an active solution partner in the global fight against antibiotic resistance, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ stated that innovative bacteriophage research conducted at the university has made significant contributions to the development of promising alternative treatment methods against resistant bacteria. Drawing attention to the university's strong research infrastructure, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “The research processes of new antimicrobials designed and synthesized on our campus continue both in laboratory environments ('in vitro') and in living organisms ('in vivo'). We also actively use artificial intelligence and advanced technologies in these studies.”
Stating that they aim to strengthen international collaborations as well as sharing scientific knowledge, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “Effective strategies against global threats such as infectious diseases can only be possible through interdisciplinary and cross-border collaborations. This congress is a reflection of this understanding.”
ANKEM Association President: 40 Years of Scientific Struggle
Referring to the 40-year scientific journey of the Antibiotic and Chemotherapy Association, ANKEM Association President Prof. Dr. Bülent Gürler said, “We have provided our physicians with pages of scientific information to date. We have organized congresses and shared current developments with our colleagues.” Addressing young scientists, Prof. Dr. Gürler said, “I wholeheartedly believe that our young friends will carry ANKEM even further with new projects.”
Congress Co-Chair: The Importance of Multidisciplinary Approach
Drawing attention to the multi-faceted and interdisciplinary structure of the congress, Congress Co-Chair Prof. Dr. Sebahat Aksaray said, “Thanks to ANKEM’s multidisciplinary approach, different branches from many countries come together and health issues are addressed in a multi-dimensional manner.” Stating that separate congresses are organized for each field of expertise today, Prof. Dr. Aksaray emphasized the importance of the congress by saying, “The fact that such a comprehensive congress, which brings together different disciplines, has continued uninterruptedly for 40 years clearly demonstrates ANKEM’s strength and value in the scientific field.”
The 40th ANKEM Congress was a productive platform where experts from different disciplines came together and shared important scientific developments on vital issues such as rational antibiotic use, infection control, vaccination and artificial intelligence-supported health applications. The presentations and discussions at the congress made significant contributions to the search for solutions to current problems in the field of health and the determination of future strategies.
