Work

Spaceflight and Medical Microbiology: Possible Implications for Standard Infection Diagnostics and Therapy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Infections pose a major risk during long-term human spaceflight missions. By applying standard procedures in medical microbiology to a hypothetical urinary tract infection during a Mars-bound flight, important practical aspects become apparent. From infection diagnostics to antimicrobial treatment during spaceflight, issues include technological constraints, the lack of breakpoints, and epidemiological data. A potential solution is a combination of data acquisition, artificial intelligence, individualized medicine, novel diagnostic tools, and antimicrobial strategies. This work takes an exploratory approach to highlight challenges and potential directions in developing diagnostic strategies for long-term space missions.

Source: Life

DOI: 10.3390/life15111757

Authors: Alessa Lalinka Boschert, Stefan Leuko, Carolin Luisa Krämer, Katharina Siems, Yen-Tran Ly-Sauerbrey, Franca Arndt

Institutions: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR), Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg

Language: English

Topic: Spaceflight effects on biology

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137