Impacto de la investigación infectológica en la salud y el bienestar del ser humano

The increase in lifespan together with an improved quality of life during the past decades has been formidable and due in a large part to the control of infectious disease. This control has been made possible through the efforts of thousands of infectious disease related researchers whom have contributed their “grain of salt”; the sum of which has created significant new knowledge and progress in the field. In certain instances this knowledge allows significant breakthroughs with rapid and obvious impact on the reduction of mortality and/or morbidity. This is a non-systematic review based on personal reflection, with the biases that this entails, on relatively recent infectious disease research milestones that have had a significant impact in human health and what can be envisioned for the near future. Recommended literature that further explores some of the topics discussed is included.