Raffelsberger disputerer for ph.d.-graden i helsevitenskap og vil offentlig forsvare avhandlingen:
Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli - Insights into Carriage and Clinical Outcome
Avhandlingen er tilgjengelig her
Disputasen starter kl. 11.15 og kan strømmes her
The auditorium is open to the public. The defense will still be streamed here
Prøveforelesning over oppgitt emne starter kl. 09.15 og kan strømmes her
"Plasmids and the spread of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacterales"
Auditoriet er åpent for publikum, men disputasen vil også bli strømmet (lenker over).
Opptak av disputasen vil være tilgjengelig i et døgn.
The auditorium is open to the public. The defense will still be streamed (see links above)
Recordings of the trial lecture and the defense will be available for 24 hours.
Populærvitenskapelig sammendrag:
Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli are two of the most common bacteria responsible for serious human infections. Resistance to common antibiotics frequently emerges in both bacteria and those termed ESBL-producing (Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-producing) are of particular concern. These resistant bacteria are a growing problem worldwide because they make infections harder to treat and contribute to the further spread of antibiotic resistance.
This thesis explored how often K. pneumoniae irrespective of being resistant and ESBL-producing E. coli are found in the gut of people in a general population and compared the bacteria found associated with carriage to those found in patients with infections. Using data from the Tromsø7 population study, the research shows that many adults carry K. pneumoniae in their gut. This is more likely in people who are older, have recently used antibiotics, take certain medications (like acid-suppressive drugs or painkillers), or have traveled abroad. Genetic analysis of the bacteria revealed a large diversity of K. pneumoniae types, which is also reflected in clinical infections. The work in the thesis also found that gut carriage of ESBL-producing E. coli is rare in the general population, but people who travel to Asia are at higher risk of carrying it. The bacteria found in carriage were more diverse than those causing infections, suggesting that certain types of E. coli are particularly good at causing infections.
Finally, in a nationwide study we showed that the type of K. pneumoniae bacteria plays a role in how severe bloodstream infections can be. Some types of the bacteria were linked to higher death rates, even in Norway, where antibiotic resistance is relatively low.
In summary, this thesis highlights the gut as an important reservoir for bacteria that can cause infections. It also shows how combining population studies with genetic research can improve our understanding of these clinically important bacteria and help us develop better ways to prevent and control infections.
Hovedveileder:
Professor Ørjan Samuelsen, Institutt for farmasi, Det helsevitenskapelige fakultet, UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Bi-veileder:
Professor Arnfinn Ståle Sundsfjord, UiT
Førsteamanuensis Iren Høyland Løhr, UiB
Førsteamanuensis Kirsten Midttun Gravningen, UiO
Bedømmelseskomité:
Førsteamanuensis Martin Sundqvist, Örebro University/Örebro University Hospital, Sweden – 1. Opponent
Professor emeritus Niels Frimodt-Møller, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital – 2. opponent
Forsker Ellinor Opsal Alseth, Institutt for farmasi, Det helsevitenskapelige fakultet, UiT– leder av komité.
Disputasleder: Professor Ole-Jakob How, Institutt for medisinsk biologi, UiT Norges arktiske universitet
When: 04.06.26 kl 11.15–16.15
Where:
Audirorium Tabletten
Location / Campus: Digitalt, Tromsø
Target group: Employees, Students, Guests, Invited
Contact: Andrea Jennerwein
Phone: +4777645872
E-mail: andrea.jennerwein@uit.no