Xavier Bertran i Forga

I am currently undertaking a PhD in the Bacterial Pathogenesis Group at QUT’s Centre for Immunology and Infection Control. Before embarking in this new project, I completed his BSc in Human Biology in Barcelona (Pompeu Fabra University), an MSc in Science Communication in Dublin (Dublin City University) and an MSc in Clinical Microbiology in Barcelona (Universitat de Barcelona). During the latter, Iinvestigated whether β-lactamases from Aeromonas species could be used as a quick method to differentiate them in a clinical setting.

Now, funded by a QUT Amplify Scholarship, I'm researching the mode of action of nitric oxide mimics as dispersal agents in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, which are very predominant causes of disease. Biofilms are aggregates of bacterial cells protected by a gel-like substance that can tolerate antibiotics at concentrations a thousand times higher than those that kill free bacteria and can recolonise surfaces after

Scopus Publications

Predictors of embolism and death in left-sided infective endocarditis: the European Society of Cardiology EURObservational Research Programme European Infective Endocarditis registry
Antonia Sambola, Jordi Lozano-Torres, Eric Boersma, Carmen Olmos, Julien Ternacle, Francisco Calvo, Christophe Tribouilloy, Vlatka Reskovic-Luksic, Jadranka Separovic-Hanzevacki, Seung-Woo Park,et al.
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Abstract Background and Aims Even though vegetation size in infective endocarditis (IE) has been associated with embolic events (EEs) and mortality risk, it is unclear whether vegetation size associated with these potential outcomes is different in left-sided IE (LSIE). This study aimed to seek assessing the vegetation cut-off size as predictor of EE or 30-day mortality for LSIE and to determine risk predictors of these outcomes. Methods The European Society of Cardiology EURObservational Research Programme European Infective Endocarditis is a prospective, multicentre registry including patients with definite or possible IE throughout 2016–18. Cox multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess variables associated with EE or 30-day mortality. Results There were 2171 patients with LSIE (women 31.5%). Among these affected patients, 459 (21.1%) had a new EE or died in 30 days. The cut-off value of vegetation size for predicting EEs or 30-day mortality was &gt;10 mm [hazard ratio (HR) 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–1.69, P = .0015]. Other adjusted predictors of risk of EE or death were as follows: EE on admission (HR 1.89, 95% CI 1.54–2.33, P &lt; .0001), history of heart failure (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.21–1.93, P = .0004), creatinine &gt;2 mg/dL (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.25–2.03, P = .0002), Staphylococcus aureus (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.08–1.70, P = .008), congestive heart failure (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.12–1.75, P = .003), presence of haemorrhagic stroke (HR 4.57, 95% CI 3.08–6.79, P &lt; .0001), alcohol abuse (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.04–2.03, P = .03), presence of cardiogenic shock (HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.29–3.34, P = .003), and not performing left surgery (HR 1.30 95% CI 1.05–1.61, P = .016) (C-statistic = .68). Conclusions Prognosis after LSIE is determined by multiple factors, including vegetation size.

Correction to: Surgery and outcome of infective endocarditis in octogenarians: prospective data from the ESC EORP EURO-ENDO registry (Infection, (2022), 50, 5, (1191-1202), 10.1007/s15010-022-01792-0)
Michal Pazdernik, Bernard Iung, Bulent Mutlu, François Alla, Robert Riezebos, William Kong, Maria Carmo Pereira Nunes, Luc Pierard, Ilija Srdanovic, Hirotsugu Yamada,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Surgery and outcome of infective endocarditis in octogenarians: prospective data from the ESC EORP EURO-ENDO registry
Michal Pazdernik, Bernard Iung, Bulent Mutlu, François Alla, Robert Riezebos, William Kong, Maria Carmo Pereira Nunes, Luc Pierard, Ilija Srdanovic, Hirotsugu Yamada,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Taxonomic identification of different species of the genus aeromonas by whole-genome sequencing and use of their species-specific Β-lactamases as phylogenetic markers
Xavier Bertran, Marc Rubio, Laura Gómez, Teresa Llovet, Carme Muñoz, Ferran Navarro, and Elisenda Miro
MDPI AG
Some Aeromonas species, potentially pathogenic for humans, are known to express up to three different classes of chromosomal β-lactamases, which may become hyperproduced and cause treatment failure. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of these species-specific β-lactamase genes as phylogenetic markers using whole-genome sequencing data. Core-genome alignments were generated for 36 Aeromonas genomes from seven different species and scanned for antimicrobial resistance genes. Core-genome alignment confirmed the MALDI-TOF identification of most of the isolates and re-identified an A. hydrophila isolate as A. dhakensis. Three (B, C and D) of the four Ambler classes of β-lactamase genes were found in A. sobria, A. allosacharophila, A. hydrophila and A. dhakensis (blaCphA, blaAmpC and blaOXA). A. veronii only showed class-B- and class-D-like matches (blaCphA and blaOXA), whereas those for A. media, A. rivipollensis and A. caviae were class C and D (blaCMY, blaMOX and blaOXA427). The phylogenetic tree derived from concatenated sequences of β-lactamase genes successfully clustered each species. Some isolates also had resistance to sulfonamides, quinolones and aminoglycosides. Whole-genome sequencing proved to be a useful method to identify Aeromonas at the species level, which led to the unexpected identification of A. dhakensis and A.rivipollensis and revealed the resistome of each isolate.

Xavier Bertran i Forga

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RESEARCH INTERESTS

Scopus Publications