Scientific Programme

ECCMID has become one of the most comprehensive and influential congresses in the field of infection and an exciting networking place bringing together >14,000 colleagues from all over the world. The Scientific Programme is built by the ECCMID Programme Committee (EPC), an independent group of experts representing all disciplines related to Clinical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Prevention and Public Health. Under the leadership of the ECCMID Programme Director, the ECCMID programme is built in several phases.

The Invited Programme usually hosts >100 sessions of different formats (Keynote Lectures, 1h and 2h Scientific Symposia, Educational Workshops, and Meet-The-Expert Sessions. These are complemented by special sessions such as the Open Forum and other ad hoc formats. Proposal for the Invited Programme are received from ESCMID study groups, ESCMID affiliated/partner societies and ESCMID committees, and of course from EPC members themselves. The Invited Programme cycle typically starts in April with opening the call for session proposals and ends in late Summer with confirmation of most speakers. The invitation of Chairs take place around the New Year.

The second phase consists of the Abstract Programme. Its cycle starts with opening the call for abstract submission in the Autumn. Abstracts are first evaluated by hundreds of expert reviewers, then carefully reviewed by the EPC, and accepted abstracts are allocated into poster and oral sessions. Decisions regarding abstracts are usually communicated to submitters early in the year and the acceptance rate is around 70%. Invitation of chairs follows shortly thereafter. Oral sessions have the format of 1-hour or 2-hour sessions, allowing full or flash presentations of research studies and clinical cases. All posters are presented online while paper poster presentations are available for on-site attendees.

The late-breaking abstract cycle typically take place closer to the congress, around February/March and allows the consideration and inclusion of new and exciting data, not available during the regular call. Particular focus is placed on new drugs, data emerging from clinical trials and public health emergencies. Recently, due to COVID-19, late submission of abstracts to regular categories was also allowed.

The ECCMID programme spans the entire range of topics in the field of infection, and its invited and abstract programmes are organised according to scientific topics and subtopics, allowing every participant to have a comprehensive educational and networking experience.  

Last but not least is the Integrated Programme, featuring scientific sessions developed by ECCMID’s industry sponsors. The Integrated Programme is of an educational non-promotional nature and its content is being controlled and approved by the EPC throughout the entire cycle of session development as well as in its delivery via appointment of an independent chair.