Difficult-to-treat Infections (P2)
Some bacterial infections persist despite treatment with appropriate antibiotics, leading to treatment failure or relapse. The clinical consequences are considerable, including prolonged hospitalization, need for high-risk surgery and worsened clinical outcomes. While host factors such as comorbidities, implanted prosthetic material and impaired immunity are well recognized, far less is known about the bacterial factors involved.
P2 aims to identify bacterial factors that contribute to treatment failure in difficult-to-treat infections, such as infective endocarditis, bacteremia, diabetic ulcers and osteomyelitis.
Our approach combines detailed clinical data with deep characterization of bacterial populations recovered from infections. By comparing the clinical course with the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the infection-derived bacterial population, we identify candidate factors that could influence clinical outcome. These are then dissected at the molecular level to establish their underlying mechanisms.
This mechanistic insight informs the design of new treatment combinations, which we evaluate in experimental infection models. Ultimately, we aim to translate this knowledge into novel diagnostics and treatment strategies, enabling precision care for patients with difficult-to-treat infections.
To address these objectives, the project consists three work-packages (WPs), each led by one or more principal investigators
Project leaders:
- Øyvind Myrvoll Lorentzen, The University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) and UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- Anne Merethe Hanssen, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Work packages (WPs)
WP5: Identification of intervenable host and pathogen factors that influence patient outcomes in infective endocarditis (IE). Øyvind M. Lorentzen, Chris Frøhlich and Brage Håheim (PIs), Vegard Skogen (collaborator), Ane Nissen (CAG-PhD student, UNN), Rebekka R. Hovd (Post doc)
WP6: Detecting and overcoming antibiotic tolerance in chronic and recurrent bacterial infections. Christian Lentz and Mona Johannessen (PIs), Louis de Weerd (collaborator), Hermano Neto (Post doc)
WP7: Tailoring therapy and predicting failure of standard treatment of ampicillin susceptible enterococci in serious infections. Kristin Hegstad (PI), Jeanette Grunnvåg (Post doc, co-PI), Johanna U. Ericson (collaborator)