Publications by authors named "German Bou"

Infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), including complex (MABc), are increasing globally and are notoriously difficult to treat due to the intrinsic resistance of these bacteria to many common antibiotics. The aims of this study were to demonstrate the in vitro activity of imipenem/relebactam against MABc clinical isolates and to determine any in vitro synergism between imipenem/relebactam and other antimicrobials. A nationwide collection of 175 MABc clinical respiratory isolates obtained from 24 hospitals in Spain (August 2022-April 2023) was studied.

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Xeruborbactam is a broad-spectrum boronate-type β-lactamase inhibitor. We aimed to evaluate its activity in combination with meropenem and compare it with other β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations against Enterobacterales. The following isolates were screened: (i) an isogenic collection of 94 isolates producing β-lactamases under wild-type and low-permeability conditions, (ii) 300 genetically diverse clinical Enterobacterales isolates producing the three main carbapenemase types (KPC-like, OXA-48-like, and metallo-β-lactamases), and (iii) two collections of isolates producing mechanisms of resistance to β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, such as KPC variants or PBP3 insertions combined with metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs).

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Discovery of disease-related bacterial biomarkers could be a useful approach for early prevention or diagnosis of various afflictions, such as colorectal cancer. This typically involves analyzing small regions of the 16S rRNA gene (e.g.

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Typhimurium is a major zoonotic pathogen, in which type 1 fimbriae play a crucial role in intestinal colonization and immune modulation. This study aimed to improve the protective immunity of a previously developed growth-deficient strain-a double auxotroph for D-glutamate and D-alanine-by engineering the inducible expression of type 1 fimbriae. : P-driven expression of the operon was achieved by λ-Red mutagenesis.

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A wide variety of clinically observed amino acid alterations in the chromosomal β-lactamase AmpC (-derived cephalosporinase [PDC]) are associated with increased resistance to cefepime, ceftolozane/tazobactam, or ceftazidime/avibactam, but their impact on cefiderocol resistance is unclear. We took advantage of a previously engineered collection of wild-type (PAO1) and iron uptake-deficient (PAO Δ) isolates producing 19 distinct PDC variants with substitutions in key catalytic regions. While most variants had moderate effects on cefiderocol minimum inhibitory concentrations compared to PDC-1, the E219K (Ω-loop) and L293P (helix H10) variants significantly affected cefiderocol activity.

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Colistin resistance is increasing globally and complicates treatments of infections. The next-generation polymyxin SPR206 shows potent activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens with low toxicity. SPR206 exhibited higher activity against colistin-susceptible and colistin-resistant strains (MIC/MIC = 0.

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Objectives: We investigated the effectiveness of early oral switch for treating Enterobacterales bloodstream infection (BSI) by performing a post hoc emulation trial of the SIMPLIFY trial.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial. We specified the target trial characteristics selecting patients who achieved clinical stability on day 5.

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is a major nosocomial pathogen commonly involved in multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections that are very difficult to treat. Imipenem/relebactam is a new carbapenem/β-lactamase inhibitor combination with robust activity against . However, resistance is increasingly reported, and rapid detection is, therefore, crucial so that appropriate treatments can be prescribed.

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Objectives: To evaluate the effect of coconut oil on the oral bacteriome and inflammatory response in patients with periodontitis by integrating next-generation sequencing analyses of pathogenic bacterial shifts and quantification of inflammatory markers, thereby assessing its potential as a natural adjunct to standard nonsurgical periodontal therapy.

Materials And Methods: A triple-blind clinical trial was conducted with 30 participants diagnosed with periodontitis, randomized into 3 groups: (1) coconut oil, (2) chlorhexidine and (3) placebo. Saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected before treatment, one month after treatment, and one month post-non-surgical periodontal therapy.

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is an opportunistic pathogen with a multidrug-resistant profile that has become a critical threat to global public health. It is one of the main causes of severe nosocomial infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, chronic infections in patients with cystic fibrosis, and bloodstream infections in immunosuppressed individuals. Development of vaccines against is a major challenge owing to the high capacity of this bacterium to form biofilms, its wide arsenal of virulence factors (including secretion systems, lipopolysaccharides, and outer membrane proteins), and its ability to evade the host immune system.

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Carbapenemase OXA-48 and its variants pose a serious threat to the development of effective treatments for bacterial infections. OXA-48-producing Enterobacterales are the most prevalent carbapenemase-producing bacteria in large parts of the world. Although these bacteria exhibit low-level carbapenem resistance , the infections they cause are challenging to treat with conventional therapies, owing to their spread and complex detection in clinical settings.

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Introduction: Murepavadin is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) in clinical development that selectively targets LptD and whose resistance profile remains unknown. We aimed to explore genomic modifications and consequences underlying murepavadin and/or colistin susceptibility.

Methods: To define genomic mechanisms underlying resistance, we performed two approaches: 1) a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a clinical collection (n=496), considering >0.

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Purpose: Clostridioides difficile is the main cause of antibiotic related diarrhea and some ribotypes (RT), such as RT027, RT181 or RT078, are considered high risk clones. A fast and reliable approach for C. difficile ribotyping is needed for a correct clinical approach.

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Introduction: The rise in multidrug-resistant bacteria challenges clinical microbiology. Tigecycline, eravacycline, and omadacycline show promise against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and Acinetobacter baumannii. This study evaluates their activity and resistance mechanisms.

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Early use of infection control methods is critical for preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is considered the gold standard for investigating outbreaks; however, the turnaround time is usually too long for clinical decision-making and the method is also costly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and artificial intelligence tools as a first-line typing tool for typing carbapenemase-producing (CPK) in the hospital setting.

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carbapenemase (KPC) variants selected during ceftazidime/avibactam treatment usually develop susceptibility to carbapenems and carbapenem/β-lactamase inhibitors, such as imipenem and imipenem/relebactam. We analyzed imipenem and imipenem/relebactam single-step mutant frequencies, resistance development trajectories and differentially selected resistance mechanisms using two representative isolates that had developed ceftazidime/avibactam resistance during therapy (ST512/KPC-31 and ST258/KPC-35). Mutant frequencies and mutant prevention concentrations were measured in Mueller-Hinton agar plates containing incremental concentrations of imipenem or imipenem/relebactam.

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We describe the emergence of resistance to ceftazidime/avibactam via modification of AmpC in a clinical isolate during therapy with this combination. Paired ceftazidime/avibactam-susceptible/resistant isolates were obtained before and during ceftazidime/avibactam treatment. Whole genome sequencing revealed a differential mutation in AmpC (R148W) in the ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant isolate.

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Article Synopsis
  • Gram-negative MDR bacteria like Enterobacterales, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa create significant clinical challenges due to complex infections and diagnostics, especially with MBL-producing strains.
  • While colistin is effective against these pathogens, its use is limited by resistance and potential kidney damage, making it a last-resort option.
  • Newer combinations, including aztreonam with avibactam and cefiderocol, show promising results and are favored for treating MBL-producing infections, with more research needed to refine treatment strategies.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated the efficacy and resistance mechanisms of cefiderocol and new β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations against strains of Enterobacterales producing multiple carbapenemases, specifically focusing on clinical samples from Spanish hospitals collected between 2017 and 2022.
  • The analysis involved 57 isolates, where minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined for various antibiotics, and whole-genome sequencing was utilized to identify genetic resistance factors.
  • Ceftazidime/avibactam, imipenem/relebactam, and meropenem/vaborbactam showed the least activity, while combinations like aztreonam/avibactam and cefepime/zidebactam were
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Objectives: We aimed to analyse the interplay between impaired iron uptake and β-lactamases on cefiderocol resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Methods: Thirty-one transferable β-lactamases and 16 intrinsic P. aeruginosa AmpC (PDC) variants were cloned and expressed in wild-type (PAO1) and iron uptake-deficient (PAO ΔpiuC) P.

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Treated sewage contains a large diversity of pathogens that can be transmitted to the environment and, directly or indirectly, infect humans through water use (i.e., consumption, bathing, or irrigation).

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Objectives: We aimed to compare the stability of the newly developed β-lactams (cefiderocol) and β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations (ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam, aztreonam/avibactam, cefepime/taniborbactam, cefepime/zidebactam, imipenem/relebactam, meropenem/vaborbactam, meropenem/nacubactam and meropenem/xeruborbactam) against the most clinically relevant mechanisms of mutational and transferable β-lactam resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Methods: We screened a collection of 61 P. aeruginosa PAO1 derivatives.

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Current antibiograms cannot discern the particular effect of a specific antibiotic when the bacteria are incubated with a mixture of antibiotics. To prove that this task is achievable, strains were treated with ciprofloxacin for 45 min, immobilized on a slide and stained with SYBR Gold. In susceptible strains, the nucleoid relative surface started to decrease near the MIC, being progressively condensed as the dose increased.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines how social restrictions and different variants, specifically Alpha, Delta, and Omicron-BA.1, affected the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Galicia, Spain.
  • Using genomic data and mobility statistics, the research found that initial variant introductions mostly came from other Spanish regions and France, later shifting to include imports from Portugal and the U.S.
  • Despite the number of introductions, most did not contribute significantly to the pandemic's evolution in Galicia, but major coastal cities were identified as key areas for viral transmission.
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