InfectoCast: A Digital Ecosystem for Infectious Diseases Education and Science Communication in Brazil Klinger Soares Faico-Filho, João Antonio Gonçalves Garreta Prats, William Dunke de Lima, Jordan Monteiro Pinheiro, Eusebio Lino dos Santos Junior, et al. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 2026 Background Digital platforms have expanded access to continuing medical education (CME), with podcasts and social media increasingly used as asynchronous learning resources. However, most established digital medical education initiatives operate primarily in English, creating linguistic and contextual barriers for professionals in non-Anglophone settings. Infectious diseases (ID) require frequent updating, and access to structured ID-focused CME in middle-income countries such as Brazil remains uneven. InfectoCast is a Brazilian digital initiative that integrates podcasting, social media, and written resources to support infectious diseases education and science communication in Portuguese. Methods We conducted a descriptive, retrospective quantitative analysis of platform-level analytics from the InfectoCast digital ecosystem between 18 September 2020 and 18 October 2025. Podcast metrics, including total plays, listening time, and geographic distribution, were extracted from Spotify for Podcasters. Social media metrics were obtained from native analytics dashboards, primarily from Instagram, with supplementary data from other platforms. Analyses focused on audience reach, growth trends, and the structure of the multi-platform dissemination strategy. Results During the study period, the InfectoCast podcast released 168 episodes, accumulating 481 000 total plays and 53 962 hours of listening across 97 countries, with 96.9% of plays originating in Brazil. The Instagram account reached 110 000 followers and functioned as the primary platform for visual educational content, including infographics, educational carousels, short-form videos, and interactive Stories. When combined with YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, the blog, and the newsletter, the ecosystem achieved an estimated monthly reach of approximately 3 million users. The integration of audio, visual, and written formats enabled coordinated dissemination of infectious diseases educational content across platforms. Conclusions This descriptive case report documents the structure, reach, and growth of InfectoCast, a Portuguese-language digital ecosystem dedicated to infectious diseases education and science communication. The findings illustrate the feasibility of integrating podcasting with social media and other digital formats to deliver educational content in a non-Anglophone context. This ecosystem-based approach may inform the development of similar initiatives in other medical specialties and regions where access to locally contextualized digital education is limited.
Asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in hospitalized patients Victor C. Passarelli, Klinger Faico-Filho, Luiz V. L. Moreira, Luciano Kleber de Souza Luna, Danielle D. Conte, et al. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 2021 In one week, 7,5% (9 in 120) asymptomatic inpatients were diagnosed with COVID-19 at a hospital with universal face masks policy. Median length of stay was 11 days, suggesting nosocomial infections. Most were presymptomatic with median cycle threshold value of 22, indicating high viral loads.
Comparative analysis of three point-of-care lateral flow immunoassays for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies: data from 100 healthcare workers in Brazil Danielle Dias Conte, Joseane Mayara Almeida Carvalho, Luciano Kleber de Souza Luna, Klinger Soares Faíco-Filho, Ana Helena Perosa, et al. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 2021 Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Brazil has the third-highest number of confirmed cases and the second-highest number of recovered patients. SARS-CoV-2 detection by real-time RT-PCR is the gold standard but requires a certified laboratory infrastructure with high-cost equipment and trained personnel. However, for large-scale testing, diagnostics should be fast, cost-effective, widely available, and deployed for the community, such as serological tests based on lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for IgM/IgG detection. We evaluated three different commercial point-of-care (POC) LFIAs for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG detection in capillary whole blood of 100 healthcare workers (HCW) from São Paulo university hospital previously tested by RT-PCR: (1) COVID-19 IgG/IgM BIO (Bioclin, Brazil), (2) Diagnostic Kit for IgM/IgG Antibody to Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) (Livzon, China), and (3) SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Test (Wondfo, China). A total of 84 positives and 16 negatives HCW were tested. The data was also analyzed by the number of days post symptoms (DPS) in three groups: <30 (n=26), 30–59 (n=42), and >59 (n=16). The observed sensibility was 85.71%, 47.62%, and 44.05% for Bioclin, Wondfo, and Livzon, respectively, with a specificity of 100% for all LFIA. Bioclin was more sensitive (p<0.01), regardless of the DPS. Thus, the Bioclin may be used as a POC test to monitor SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in HCW.
Immunization against respiratory viruses among dental surgeons: high personal coverage, low involvement in vaccine promotion R Matheus, KS Faico-Filho, N Bellei The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 30 (3), 105820 , 2026 2026
InfectoCast: A Digital Ecosystem for Infectious Diseases Education and Science Communication in Brazil KS Faico-Filho, JA Gonçalves Garreta Prats, W Dunke de Lima, ... Open Forum Infectious Diseases 13 (4), ofag179 , 2026 2026
Primary Mediastinal Seminoma: A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge with an optimistic outcome S dos Santos Bueno, RB Previtale, MR Alves, KS Faico-Filho Case Reports in Oncological Medicine 2026, 3286934 , 2026 2026
P-1100. Assessing Hand Hygiene on a Large Scale: Hospital Self-Assessment, Healthcare Workers’ Perception, and HAI Burden in Brazilian Institutions RM de Moura, APF de Almeida, CV Silva, KS Faico-Filho, BM Tavares, ... Open Forum Infectious Diseases 13 (Suppl 1), ofaf695. 1295 , 2026 2026
P-649. Impact of rhinovirus in patients with different clinical presentation during 2023-2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil KS Faico-Filho, AH Perosa, N Bellei Open Forum Infectious Diseases 13 (Supplement_1), ofaf695. 862 , 2026 2026
Epidemiological and clinical insights into respiratory syncytial virus among hospitalized adults and healthcare workers in Brazil: A retrospective study KS Faico-Filho, AHS Perosa, N Bellei Infectious diseases now 56 (1), 105190 , 2025 2025
Case report: post-renal acute kidney injury due to voluminous inguinoscrotal hernia B Orozco, KS Faico-Filho Journal of Medical Residency Review 4 (00), e092-e092 , 2025 2025
Rhinovirus in adults with severe lower respiratory tract infection: incidental carriage or primary pathogen? A comparative study across different clinical status categories AH Perosa, KS Faico-Filho, K Pendeloski, R Matheus, N Bellei medRxiv, 2025.11. 14.25340248 , 2025 2025
" NOMES QUE IMPORTAM"-IMPLANTAÇÃO DO NOME SOCIAL NO PRONTUÁRIO DO HOSPITAL DA CIDADE DE CARATINGA (MG): UM RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA MF de Miranda Rocha, ACC Cassemiro, AC das Virgens Arruda, ... Brazilian Medical Students 9 (13) , 2024 2024
Should we vaccinate healthcare workers against respiratory syncytial virus? KS Faico‐Filho, AHS Perosa, N Bellei Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 18 (8), e13363 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
How much samples do you misdiagnosis with nasal swab? KS Faico-Filho, AHS Perosa, N Bellei The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 28 (4), 103854 , 2024 2024
ETIOLOGIA DAS SÍNDROMES RESPIRATÓRIAS AGUDAS EM UM PRONTO ATENDIMENTO INFANTIL L De Paula Santos, MR Caires, WC de Figueiredo Fernandes, ... The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 27, 103167 , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
How did SARS-CoV-2 variants impact the elective and emergency surgeries? G Barbosa, APC Chaves, K Faico-Filho, N Bellei Perioperative Care and Operating Room Management 31, 100312 , 2023 2023
INQUÉRITO SOROLÓGICO DE COVID-19 EM UM PRESÍDIO NA ERA PRÉ-VACINA KS Faico-Filho, IOC Siqueira, MI Correa, PC da Silva Botelho, ... The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 26, 102556 , 2022 2022
OCORRÊNCIA DE CASOS POSITIVOS DE SARS-COV-2 DURANTE A ONDA DE ÔMICRON EM UM HOSPITAL PÚBLICO DE SÃO PAULO APC Chaves, F Alberto-Lei, R Veiga, DD Conte, GR Barbosa, ... The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 26, 102488 , 2022 2022
COMO AS VARIANTES DE SARS-COV-2 IMPACTARAM AS CIRURGIAS ELETIVAS E DE EMERGÊNCIA? G Barbosa, AP Chaves, K Faico-Filho, N Bellei The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 26, 102549 , 2022 2022
CONTROLE DE CORTICOIDE NA ERA COVID-19: A NOVA ATRIBUIÇÃO DO STEWARDSHIP-RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA KS Faico Filho, CCL Carvalho, RAS Alves, MM Moura-Faico The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 26, 102555 , 2022 2022
INFECTOCAST: ENSINANDO INFECTOLOGIA POR MEIO DE NOVAS TECNOLOGIAS KS Faico-Filho, FAF Medeiros, JM Pinheiro, EL dos Santos Junior, ... The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 26, 102482 , 2022 2022
Peculiar H3N2 outbreak in São Paulo during summer and emergence of the Omicron variant KS Faico-Filho, GR Barbosa, N Bellei The Journal of Infection 85 (1), 90 , 2022 2022 Citations: 16
Hospital N Bellei, KS Faico-Filho, FE Finamor Junior, LVL Moreira, PRG Lins, ... BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 26 (2) , 2022 2022
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Is higher viral load in SARS-CoV-2 associated with death? KS Faíco-Filho, VC Passarelli, N Bellei The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 103 (5), 2019 , 2020 2020 Citations: 119
Asymptomatic COVID-19 in hospital visitors: The underestimated potential of viral shedding VC Passarelli, K Faico-Filho, LVL Moreira, AP Cunha, JMA Carvalho, ... International Journal of Infectious Diseases 102, 412-414 , 2021 2021 Citations: 23
Rapid spread and high impact of the variant of concern P. 1 in the largest city of Brazil GR Barbosa, LVL Moreira, AFO Justo, AH Perosa, LK de Souza Luna, ... Journal of Infection 83 (1), 119-145 , 2021 2021 Citations: 21
COVID-19 in health care workers in a university hospital during the quarantine in São Paulo city KS Faíco-Filho, JMA Carvalho, DD Conte, LKS Luna, N Bellei Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 24, 462-465 , 2020 2020 Citations: 17
Peculiar H3N2 outbreak in São Paulo during summer and emergence of the Omicron variant KS Faico-Filho, GR Barbosa, N Bellei The Journal of Infection 85 (1), 90 , 2022 2022 Citations: 16
Comparative analysis of three point-of-care lateral flow immunoassays for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies: data from 100 healthcare workers in Brazil DD Conte, JMA Carvalho, LK de Souza Luna, KS Faíco-Filho, AH Perosa, ... Brazilian Journal of Microbiology 52 (3), 1161-1165 , 2021 2021 Citations: 16
Evaluation of the Panbio™ COVID-19 ag rapid test at an emergency room in a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil KS Faíco-Filho, FE Finamor Júnior, LVL Moreira, PRG Lins, AFO Justo, ... Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 26, 102349 , 2022 2022 Citations: 13
No benefit of hydroxychloroquine on SARS-CoV-2 viral load reduction in non-critical hospitalized patients with COVID-19 KS Faíco-Filho, DD Conte, LK de Souza Luna, JMA Carvalho, ... Brazilian Journal of Microbiology 51 (4), 1765-1769 , 2020 2020 Citations: 7
Total melanonychia of 20 nails as a rare manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency KS Faico-Filho, RS Martins, CL Santos, WA Poles, RB de Mello, ... JAAD Case Reports 6 (4), 372-373 , 2020 2020 Citations: 6
Should we vaccinate healthcare workers against respiratory syncytial virus? KS Faico‐Filho, AHS Perosa, N Bellei Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 18 (8), e13363 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in hospitalized patients VC Passarelli, K Faico-Filho, LVL Moreira, LK de Souza Luna, DD Conte, ... Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 42 (9), 1158-1160 , 2021 2021 Citations: 3
Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in hospitalized patients VC Passarelli, K Faico-Filho, LVL Moreira, L Luna, DD Conte, C Camargo Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol 10 , 2020 2020 Citations: 3
ETIOLOGIA DAS SÍNDROMES RESPIRATÓRIAS AGUDAS EM UM PRONTO ATENDIMENTO INFANTIL L De Paula Santos, MR Caires, WC de Figueiredo Fernandes, ... The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 27, 103167 , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
Carcinoma basocelular em supercílio reconstrução com retalho bilateral: um relato de caso KS Faíco Filho, AS Oliveira, DC de Freitas Batista, ÍCS Lima, LB Pena, ... Nucleus 15 (1), 225-236 , 2018 2018 Citations: 2
Waning of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody levels response to inactivated cellular vaccine over 6 months among healthcare workers M Taminato, APC Chaves, RB Morais, LVL Moreira, DD Conte, ... medRxiv, 2021.12. 30.21268532 , 2022 2022 Citations: 1
Effect of hydroxychloroquine on SARS-CoV-2 viral load in patients with COVID-19 KS Faíco-Filho, DD Conte, LK de Souza Luna, JM Almeida Carvalho, ... MedRxiv, 2020.06. 16.20133066 , 2020 2020 Citations: 1
Immunization against respiratory viruses among dental surgeons: high personal coverage, low involvement in vaccine promotion R Matheus, KS Faico-Filho, N Bellei The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 30 (3), 105820 , 2026 2026
InfectoCast: A Digital Ecosystem for Infectious Diseases Education and Science Communication in Brazil KS Faico-Filho, JA Gonçalves Garreta Prats, W Dunke de Lima, ... Open Forum Infectious Diseases 13 (4), ofag179 , 2026 2026
Primary Mediastinal Seminoma: A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge with an optimistic outcome S dos Santos Bueno, RB Previtale, MR Alves, KS Faico-Filho Case Reports in Oncological Medicine 2026, 3286934 , 2026 2026
P-1100. Assessing Hand Hygiene on a Large Scale: Hospital Self-Assessment, Healthcare Workers’ Perception, and HAI Burden in Brazilian Institutions RM de Moura, APF de Almeida, CV Silva, KS Faico-Filho, BM Tavares, ... Open Forum Infectious Diseases 13 (Suppl 1), ofaf695. 1295 , 2026 2026
