Tom Yates
@tomayates.bsky.social
Epidemiology, infection
https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/37299-tom-yates/about
https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/37299-tom-yates/about
I had a lovely time attending the EEPE genetic epidemiology course - learned loads. Thanks to @uclpophealthsci.bsky.social for funding my attendance - also green travel - via a Catalyst Award
July 13, 2026 at 12:35 PM
I had a lovely time attending the EEPE genetic epidemiology course - learned loads. Thanks to @uclpophealthsci.bsky.social for funding my attendance - also green travel - via a Catalyst Award
On current polling, Reform and Tories get 373/650 seats from 45% vote share
Greens/Labour have similar vote share, Lib Dems a little behind
Greens unable to pick battles, vote inefficiently distributed
Labour pushing progressive voters away
Between them Starmer and Polanski will cause real harm
Greens/Labour have similar vote share, Lib Dems a little behind
Greens unable to pick battles, vote inefficiently distributed
Labour pushing progressive voters away
Between them Starmer and Polanski will cause real harm
April 24, 2026 at 2:33 PM
On current polling, Reform and Tories get 373/650 seats from 45% vote share
Greens/Labour have similar vote share, Lib Dems a little behind
Greens unable to pick battles, vote inefficiently distributed
Labour pushing progressive voters away
Between them Starmer and Polanski will cause real harm
Greens/Labour have similar vote share, Lib Dems a little behind
Greens unable to pick battles, vote inefficiently distributed
Labour pushing progressive voters away
Between them Starmer and Polanski will cause real harm
Lots of cool trials reporting at #ESCMIDGlobal2026
OCTOPUS - low dose CT better than CXR (and US) to diagnose pneumonia in older adults
SNAP - adjunctive clinda in SAB doesn't help, may harm. Interestingly, no excess C diff
PROCALBAN - daily POC PCT -> safe, big reductions in Abx duration in LMIC
OCTOPUS - low dose CT better than CXR (and US) to diagnose pneumonia in older adults
SNAP - adjunctive clinda in SAB doesn't help, may harm. Interestingly, no excess C diff
PROCALBAN - daily POC PCT -> safe, big reductions in Abx duration in LMIC
April 21, 2026 at 7:42 AM
Lots of cool trials reporting at #ESCMIDGlobal2026
OCTOPUS - low dose CT better than CXR (and US) to diagnose pneumonia in older adults
SNAP - adjunctive clinda in SAB doesn't help, may harm. Interestingly, no excess C diff
PROCALBAN - daily POC PCT -> safe, big reductions in Abx duration in LMIC
OCTOPUS - low dose CT better than CXR (and US) to diagnose pneumonia in older adults
SNAP - adjunctive clinda in SAB doesn't help, may harm. Interestingly, no excess C diff
PROCALBAN - daily POC PCT -> safe, big reductions in Abx duration in LMIC
Here are results reported today. Investigators are (hopefully) going to randomise another 500 people, in attempt to quantify impact on mortality (rather than composite 7 day endpoint reported here)
April 20, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Here are results reported today. Investigators are (hopefully) going to randomise another 500 people, in attempt to quantify impact on mortality (rather than composite 7 day endpoint reported here)
Superb session at #ESCMIDGlobal2026 on the PeterPen and ASTARTE trials
Important results, great discussion, thanks to @angelahuttner.bsky.social and friends
Big remaining evidence gap concerns optimal empiric (rather than follow on) therapy
ACORN study strategy with consent waiver may work
Important results, great discussion, thanks to @angelahuttner.bsky.social and friends
Big remaining evidence gap concerns optimal empiric (rather than follow on) therapy
ACORN study strategy with consent waiver may work
April 20, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Superb session at #ESCMIDGlobal2026 on the PeterPen and ASTARTE trials
Important results, great discussion, thanks to @angelahuttner.bsky.social and friends
Big remaining evidence gap concerns optimal empiric (rather than follow on) therapy
ACORN study strategy with consent waiver may work
Important results, great discussion, thanks to @angelahuttner.bsky.social and friends
Big remaining evidence gap concerns optimal empiric (rather than follow on) therapy
ACORN study strategy with consent waiver may work
Terrifying results from Dr Nomonde Mvelase (OS081)
I491F, rifampicin-R NOT detected by Xpert assay, is common in South Africa - 47% of isonizid-R isolates have this occult MDR
Likely to be strain initially observed in Swaziland, which was commonly BDQ resistant (testing of RSA isolates planned)
I491F, rifampicin-R NOT detected by Xpert assay, is common in South Africa - 47% of isonizid-R isolates have this occult MDR
Likely to be strain initially observed in Swaziland, which was commonly BDQ resistant (testing of RSA isolates planned)
April 20, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Terrifying results from Dr Nomonde Mvelase (OS081)
I491F, rifampicin-R NOT detected by Xpert assay, is common in South Africa - 47% of isonizid-R isolates have this occult MDR
Likely to be strain initially observed in Swaziland, which was commonly BDQ resistant (testing of RSA isolates planned)
I491F, rifampicin-R NOT detected by Xpert assay, is common in South Africa - 47% of isonizid-R isolates have this occult MDR
Likely to be strain initially observed in Swaziland, which was commonly BDQ resistant (testing of RSA isolates planned)
It is going to be very large, isn't it? Also, you don't need a full menu of options to massively expand our evidence base
NeoSep is going to randomise 3000 infants, and will provide a head to head comparison of a good number of agents using a PRACTical design
NeoSep is going to randomise 3000 infants, and will provide a head to head comparison of a good number of agents using a PRACTical design
April 19, 2026 at 11:36 AM
It is going to be very large, isn't it? Also, you don't need a full menu of options to massively expand our evidence base
NeoSep is going to randomise 3000 infants, and will provide a head to head comparison of a good number of agents using a PRACTical design
NeoSep is going to randomise 3000 infants, and will provide a head to head comparison of a good number of agents using a PRACTical design
Great to hear BALANCE has transitioned to a gram negative platform trial
However, not sure I agree with all the choices made by the BALANCE/BALANCE+ investigators - would be interested to hear their thinking
Short 🧵
#ESCMIDGlobal2026
However, not sure I agree with all the choices made by the BALANCE/BALANCE+ investigators - would be interested to hear their thinking
Short 🧵
#ESCMIDGlobal2026
April 18, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Great to hear BALANCE has transitioned to a gram negative platform trial
However, not sure I agree with all the choices made by the BALANCE/BALANCE+ investigators - would be interested to hear their thinking
Short 🧵
#ESCMIDGlobal2026
However, not sure I agree with all the choices made by the BALANCE/BALANCE+ investigators - would be interested to hear their thinking
Short 🧵
#ESCMIDGlobal2026
There seems to be a misconception that mortality is an unfeasible endpoint because it is infrequent
Remember, if your outcome is a risk difference percent, power/precision is maximised as the event rate trends towards 0 (or 1)
Remember, if your outcome is a risk difference percent, power/precision is maximised as the event rate trends towards 0 (or 1)
April 18, 2026 at 7:53 AM
There seems to be a misconception that mortality is an unfeasible endpoint because it is infrequent
Remember, if your outcome is a risk difference percent, power/precision is maximised as the event rate trends towards 0 (or 1)
Remember, if your outcome is a risk difference percent, power/precision is maximised as the event rate trends towards 0 (or 1)
First, I don't understand the enthusiasm for DOOR/Radar
What do we gain by throwing everything in together?
As this slide makes clear, patients care about individual components
What do we gain by throwing everything in together?
As this slide makes clear, patients care about individual components
April 18, 2026 at 7:33 AM
First, I don't understand the enthusiasm for DOOR/Radar
What do we gain by throwing everything in together?
As this slide makes clear, patients care about individual components
What do we gain by throwing everything in together?
As this slide makes clear, patients care about individual components
Nice presentation from @seanong.bsky.social about DOOR/Radar at #ESCMIDGlobal2026
My main worry is lower ranked components dominating
Sarah Walker discussed this issue in her excellent Bradford Hill lecture (recording in link)
My main worry is lower ranked components dominating
Sarah Walker discussed this issue in her excellent Bradford Hill lecture (recording in link)
April 17, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Nice presentation from @seanong.bsky.social about DOOR/Radar at #ESCMIDGlobal2026
My main worry is lower ranked components dominating
Sarah Walker discussed this issue in her excellent Bradford Hill lecture (recording in link)
My main worry is lower ranked components dominating
Sarah Walker discussed this issue in her excellent Bradford Hill lecture (recording in link)
Trying to recreate the Bavarian experience in east London - red cabbage, rye bread, etc
#ESCMIDGlobal2026
#ESCMIDGlobal2026
April 17, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Trying to recreate the Bavarian experience in east London - red cabbage, rye bread, etc
#ESCMIDGlobal2026
#ESCMIDGlobal2026
Go see Rebel Puck Circus, if you get a chance
In the Olympic Park til 12 April, then touring
Loads of fun, nice vibes, occasionally spectacular!
In the Olympic Park til 12 April, then touring
Loads of fun, nice vibes, occasionally spectacular!
April 9, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Go see Rebel Puck Circus, if you get a chance
In the Olympic Park til 12 April, then touring
Loads of fun, nice vibes, occasionally spectacular!
In the Olympic Park til 12 April, then touring
Loads of fun, nice vibes, occasionally spectacular!
My immediate family saved 2.4 metric tons of CO2 by choosing the train for our Easter holiday (4 people, 2300km)
The benefits of travel by train are MASSIVELY undersold by this infographic that, inexplicably, @groupe-sncf.com continue to use!
@president.groupe-sncf.com @sncf-voyageurs.bsky.social
The benefits of travel by train are MASSIVELY undersold by this infographic that, inexplicably, @groupe-sncf.com continue to use!
@president.groupe-sncf.com @sncf-voyageurs.bsky.social
April 4, 2026 at 1:31 PM
My immediate family saved 2.4 metric tons of CO2 by choosing the train for our Easter holiday (4 people, 2300km)
The benefits of travel by train are MASSIVELY undersold by this infographic that, inexplicably, @groupe-sncf.com continue to use!
@president.groupe-sncf.com @sncf-voyageurs.bsky.social
The benefits of travel by train are MASSIVELY undersold by this infographic that, inexplicably, @groupe-sncf.com continue to use!
@president.groupe-sncf.com @sncf-voyageurs.bsky.social
Strain discordance - using 24 loci MIRU-VNTR, RFLP or WGS - is COMMON!
Around a third of household case pairs in low and medium incidence countries have different strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)
More than half of pairs in high incidence countries have different strains
[2/n]
Around a third of household case pairs in low and medium incidence countries have different strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)
More than half of pairs in high incidence countries have different strains
[2/n]
December 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Strain discordance - using 24 loci MIRU-VNTR, RFLP or WGS - is COMMON!
Around a third of household case pairs in low and medium incidence countries have different strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)
More than half of pairs in high incidence countries have different strains
[2/n]
Around a third of household case pairs in low and medium incidence countries have different strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)
More than half of pairs in high incidence countries have different strains
[2/n]
I can't strike but, for those dunking on my colleagues who are striking tomorrow, here is a super useful figure from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk
This uses CPI rather than RPI, i.e. the more conservative of the measures by which real terms pay has been cut for NHS workers
This uses CPI rather than RPI, i.e. the more conservative of the measures by which real terms pay has been cut for NHS workers
December 16, 2025 at 10:53 PM
I can't strike but, for those dunking on my colleagues who are striking tomorrow, here is a super useful figure from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk
This uses CPI rather than RPI, i.e. the more conservative of the measures by which real terms pay has been cut for NHS workers
This uses CPI rather than RPI, i.e. the more conservative of the measures by which real terms pay has been cut for NHS workers
Clinical pharmacology friends, how likely is it that patients would develop sulfamethoxazole crystals in urine if given prophylactic doses of co-trim PLUS methenamine? The case reports I have seen are all patients on high dose co-trim
#IDSky #ClinPharm
#IDSky #ClinPharm
July 16, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Clinical pharmacology friends, how likely is it that patients would develop sulfamethoxazole crystals in urine if given prophylactic doses of co-trim PLUS methenamine? The case reports I have seen are all patients on high dose co-trim
#IDSky #ClinPharm
#IDSky #ClinPharm
How is @groupe-sncf.com still using this terrible infographic, which massively understates the environmental benefits of train travel
#dataviz
#dataviz
April 13, 2025 at 7:14 PM
How is @groupe-sncf.com still using this terrible infographic, which massively understates the environmental benefits of train travel
#dataviz
#dataviz
Here is the OBR's distributional impact assessment of Rachel Reeves' changes so far
Hard to understand why richest households haven't been asked to contribute more
Doesn't include funding additional defence spending with cuts to DFID, which is spectacularly regressive
@stellacreasy.bsky.social
Hard to understand why richest households haven't been asked to contribute more
Doesn't include funding additional defence spending with cuts to DFID, which is spectacularly regressive
@stellacreasy.bsky.social
March 26, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Here is the OBR's distributional impact assessment of Rachel Reeves' changes so far
Hard to understand why richest households haven't been asked to contribute more
Doesn't include funding additional defence spending with cuts to DFID, which is spectacularly regressive
@stellacreasy.bsky.social
Hard to understand why richest households haven't been asked to contribute more
Doesn't include funding additional defence spending with cuts to DFID, which is spectacularly regressive
@stellacreasy.bsky.social