A plea for caution before changing bacterial names in databases

I completely agree. We need to support our clinicians in diagnostics and therapy and not to confuse them.

I agree. The laboratory is forced to comment on its findings because clinicians don't understand them

I completely agree. This is a very useful initiative; my thanks to the authors!

Please stop this nonsense of renaming and rebranding pathogens. A change of pathogen names causes more confusion, trouble and mischief than necessary. In the worst case it may lead to delayed, inappropriate or even omitted therapy. In milder cases it just contributes to the chaos facter in scientific nomenclature.

Very important!

Newcomers in scientific fields frequently miss old literature because of name changes of the strains.

“Frequent nomenclature changes risk misinterpretation and inappropriate treatment.”

I agree. This makes a lot of problems. The same is true for fungi and plants

I do not believe that changing the nomenclature of prokaryotes constitutes a novel scientific contribution; on the contrary, it may also erase the legacy of the individual who originally assigned the name. Therefore, such name changes should be avoided.

I fully support this petition, but I emphasize that this must be coordinated with the ICSP.

Fully agree.

I completely agree with this petition.

I fully support this initiative. Frequent changes in nomenclature are confusing for clinicians and in the worst case can result in wrong interpretation of microbiological data and inadequate patient treatment.

I have also support this initiative. I do not find it reasonable or appropriate that the names of the bacteria we culture and examine in medical microbiology and infectious disease practice are changed so frequently that it is difficult to track and reflect in practices and documentation. We need a more traceable and less confusing treatment approach.

Imagine you had to change your surname according to your maternal ancestry line (= genetical reliable!) whenever Artificial Intelligence searches historical pedigree records and finds out something new about the birth name of your grand-grand-grand grandma to adopt this new surname. Get crazy and repent what you do to microbes!

Fully agree—stable nomenclature is essential for clarity and communication.

This leads to confusion and misunderstandings.

I strongy support this inititive. 2019 many of us already refused to accept new names for mycobacteria: Same meat, different gravy: ignore the new names of mycobacteria Enrico Tortoli et al, Eur Respir J, 54

I support this initiative. Frequent nomenclature changes in medically important bacteria create confusion in clinical practice and laboratory systems. A more cautious and standardized approach is urgently needed.

I support the recommendations made herein, especially with regards to the issues with medical decision-making and legal requirements.