ESCMID Global 2026

From Candida Detection to AST Innovation: Highlights from ESCMID 2026 

At ESCMID Global 2026 in Munich, the global medical microbiology community came together with a shared focus: addressing the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and improving patient outcomes through better diagnostics. For Thermo Fisher Scientific, the event was an opportunity to engage directly with clinical microbiologists, laboratory leaders, and infectious disease experts—sharing not only our latest innovations, but also our commitment to being a trusted partner in microbiology.

Our presence at ESCMID created opportunities for visitors to engage directly with our scientific experts, explore real-world applications and see how our culture media and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) solutions can support confident, efficient decision-making in the laboratory. Through interactive discussions, attendees were able to connect scientific innovation with the everyday challenges faced in microbiology labs.  

Supporting faster, more confident identification with culture media 

With increasing pressure on laboratories to deliver rapid and accurate results, culture media remains a critical foundation of microbiology workflows. At ESCMID, our newest chromogenic agar,  Brilliance Candida 2  was a key highlight, designed to enable reliable differentiation of Candida species, including  Candida auris—an emerging global threat requiring rapid detection and effective infection control.

This was further reinforced through real-world application, including a poster from a German customer highlighting how chromogenic media can support improved workflow efficiency and diagnostic confidence. Together, these insights demonstrate the critical role of high-quality culture media in enabling faster, more informed clinical decisions. 

Advancing AST with proven performance and innovation 

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing remains central to combating AMR, and at ESCMID we reinforced the importance of accuracy, reproducibility and standardization through our Sensititre system. 

Two multi-site studies presented at the congress demonstrated strong agreement between Sensititre and CLSI/ISO reference broth microdilution methods. One study evaluating aztreonam-avibactam in Gram-negative organisms showed essential agreement of up to 96% and categorical agreement approaching 99%, confirming the system’s reliability across a broad range of clinically relevant isolates.  

A second study focused on sulbactam-durlobactam testing in Acinetobacter spp. also demonstrated high essential agreement (~95–96%) and strong reproducibility across multiple sites, reinforcing confidence in Sensititre as a robust method for susceptibility testing in challenging pathogens. 

These findings highlight the value of standardized AST solutions in delivering consistent, high-quality data to support clinical decision-making. 

Looking ahead, we also shared progress on our upcoming Gram-negative plate, designed to address evolving resistance patterns and support laboratories with more comprehensive and future-ready testing capabilities. 

Creating meaningful engagement through expertise

Beyond product innovation, ESCMID was about connection and collaboration. Our Expert Café created a dedicated space for in-depth scientific discussions, enabling customers and prospects to engage directly with our subject matter experts across culture media and AST. 

These conversations were complemented by on-booth interviews with SelectScience, where our experts explored key topics such as  Candida auris  screening and the future of antimicrobial susceptibility testing.  Professor Joseph Meletiadis, Head of the Mycology Unit in the Clinical Microbiology Department at Attikon University General Hospital, Greece, discussed the growing challenge of  Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant fungus known for rapid patient colonization and persistence in healthcare settings. He emphasized the importance of early detection and highlighted the need to screen multiple anatomical sites in order to achieve sensitivity rates of 99–100%, supporting more effective infection control measures and limiting transmission. 

Jeroen Bursens, Scientific Affairs Manager, and Jani Holopainen, Head of R&D for Microbiology outlined how our continued commitment to launch AST capabilities for the newest antibiotics are reinforcing the laboratory’s critical role in antimicrobial stewardship and the global fight against AMR. 

These interactions reinforced the importance of combining advanced diagnostics with expert insight to address the complexities of modern microbiology.

Partnering for the future of microbiology 

As ESCMID 2026 demonstrated, the fight against AMR requires more than individual technologies—it demands integrated solutions, collaboration, and trusted partnerships. From early detection with high-quality culture media to precise susceptibility testing and data-driven insights, laboratories need support across the entire diagnostic journey. 

At  Thermo Fisher Scientific, we are committed to delivering not only innovative solutions, but also the expertise and partnership that laboratories rely on every day. 

As we build on the momentum from ESCMID, we look forward to continuing these conversations—working together to advance microbiology and improve patient outcomes worldwide.