Infectious Diseases

Overview

The aim of the seven groups of this area is to improve the outcomes of patients with infectious diseases. The Epidemiology and Public Health group is mainly focused on the epidemiology and prevention of healthcare acquired infections, transmissible infections and on the new preventive vaccines. The Infectious Diseases group focuses on improving the strategies of clinical problems observed in clinical practice. Microbiology studies mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobials, pathogenicity, taxonomy and epidemiology, and infectious diseases diagnostics.

The CRIPS group focuses on the most prevalent aspects of infections in the intensive care unit (ICU), while SODIR group works in the areas of shock, organ dysfunction and resuscitation.

There is also a group focused on infection in immunocompromised pediatric patients, and a group from the CIBBIM-Nanomedicine interested in the synthesis, characterization and applications of engineered inorganic nanoparticles in the field of medicine.

Publications

236

total

1,029.655

impact factor

4.363

average impact factor

Director: Jordi Rello

team

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The activity of the Research Group is developed across five main edges, covering basic science (Inflammatory Biomarkers), Translational Research, Clinical Trials (CIBERES – HORIZON 2020) and Knowledge Translation (Guidelines & RCT):

Pneumonia and Sepsis in Adults.
Pneumonia & sepsis in critically ill children (pediatric ICU)
Organ donation & severe infections in transplant patients
Severe Influenza
Clinical Guidelines

The group is responsible for the WP5 of Pneumonia Integrated Cooperative Project (CIBERES_ 2nd edition), developing in 2017 several SR & MA in aerosolized antibiotics, adjuvant therapy and new antimicrobials (COMBACTE). An international phase II RCT on a Pseudomonas vaccine has been reported, being leaded by the PI, in collaboration with the Pharma Industry. Participation in the DMC Boards of adjuvant monoclonal antibodies in severe infections and sepsis (COMBACTE – IMI Initiative) has been developed.

A doctoral thesis on intra-abdominal candidiasis (L Lagunes Thesis) and Aerosolized antibiotics (C Sole- Thesis MDI award) have been presented. As part of the doctoral thesis, a validation of the CDC definitions on VAE – VAP in adults and children are ongoing, with implementation of care bundles to prevent these complications,. These projects have been endorsed and sponsored by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. Under its auspice, preparation for a Position Paper Towards Personalized Medicine in Sepsis was ongoing.

The group is leading dfferent participative projects in networks, with a collaboration on a multicenter networks , such as a network on acute Respiratory failure caused by Influenza, enclosing immunologic translational considerations (Doctoral Thesis from B Valenzuela, ongoing).

The group works collaboratively with the Medical Direction Department of Transplant Programs of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (VHUH), which is one of the top transplant centres in Spain, with the highest rate of transplant procurement in Catalunya, achieving more than 140 donors per million of population, and 436 of solid organs transplants performed in 2017, with more than 40 years of experience, 8000 solid organ transplants, 800 of them paediatrician performed and more than 5000 professionals trained). The line of investigation in transplant covers several aspects of translational research, with special interest in lung transplant (graft quality improvement through the procurement and recovery, primary graft function, acute complications beyond the postoperative care), counting on the collaboration of the 5 top lung transplant centres in Spain.