Microbiology

Microbiología-01

Summary of activities

The Group conducts research on the causes, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Major research lines include the study of implant-associated infections and mycobacterial diseases, the development of new therapeutic approaches such as bacteriophage therapy and nanoparticle-based treatments, and the implementation of innovative diagnostic techniques based on molecular biology, as well as preventive strategies including vaccine development.

Contributions to society

Dr Jaime Esteban: Development of national protocols and consensus documents on osteoarticular infections, mycobacterial diseases and phage therapy. Participation in the Spanish National Tuberculosis Plan. Co-author of the new international unified definition of prosthetic joint infection.

Dr Meritxell García Quintanilla: Participation in the first national protocol for phage therapy and in the first multicentre phage therapy project conducted in Spain.

Collaborations

The Microbiology group collaborates with numerous national research teams working in the fields of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology through CIBERINFEC, where it participates in a multicentre and multidisciplinary research group involving investigators from IIS-FJD, CENIM-CSIC, Carlos III University of Madrid, La Paz University Hospital, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Clinic University of Navarra (Madrid), Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, and Bellvitge University Hospital. The group also collaborates with CIBEREHD, as well as with several national groups specialising in osteoarticular infections and mycobacterial diseases through the corresponding working groups of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) and the Spanish Society for Mycobacteriology (SMMC). Additional collaborations are maintained with the Complutense University of Madrid. Research on viral variability is carried out in collaboration with the Severo Ochoa Centre for Molecular Biology (CSIC-UAM), the National Biotechnology Centre (CNB-CSIC) and the Institute for Molecular Biology of Barcelona (IBMB) through the Global Health PTI Platform.

At the international level, the group collaborates with European partners through the ESGMYC, ESGIAI and ESGB study groups of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). Additional collaborations have been established with the University of Helsinki, Aarhus University, Ghent University, The Ohio State University, and several international reference centres. These collaborations focus on research into biomaterials, innovative therapeutic approaches, implant-associated infections, healthcare-associated infections and mycobacterial diseases.

In the field of phage therapy, key national collaborators include the Biomedical Research Institute of A Coruña (INIBIC) at A Coruña University Hospital, the Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP, UPM-INIA) in Madrid, and partners within the FAGOMA Network, including the National Biotechnology Centre (CNB-CSIC) and the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Valencia. International phage therapy collaborations include the Croix-Rousse Hospital of the Hospices Civils de Lyon and the Institute for Research in Infectiology of Montpellier (IRIM-CNRS) in France.

PhD Theses

List of publications

Phage Therapy for Hospital-Acquired Respiratory Bacterial Infections: A Review.

Muñoz-Egea MC, Rodríguez A, Esteban J, García-Quintanilla M.

Open Respir Arch. 2026.8(1):100507.

PMID: 41323151

FI: 0

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.opresp.2025.100507

Evaluation of bacterial adherence and biofilm development on an anodized stainless-steel surface for the prevention of osteosynthesis-associated infections.

Medel-Plaza M, Arenas MA, Aguilera-Correa JJ, De Bleeckere A, Mediero A, García I, De Damborenea JJ, Esteban J, Coenye T, Conde A.

J Bone Jt Infect. 2025.10(6):581-595.

PMID: 41477192

FI: 2,8

http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/jbji-10-581-2025

2025 ICM: Samples for Culture.

Tsai SW, Tarabichi S, Vasarhelyi EM, Jacem S, Kramer TS, Sadek FZ, Bilgen OF, Bingham JS, Braun S, De Vecchi E, Dobarganes F, Drago L, Eavan M, Esteban J, Hichem A, Khanh Hung TN, Lizcano JD, Moojen DJF, Murylev V, Neuwirth AL, Ohji G, Paniccia MS, Portillo ME, Prieto HA, Rajgopal A, Riaz T, Rostagno R, Rottman M, Shahcheragi GH, Srirangarajan T, Spangehl MJ, Suyon M, Taniguchi T, Tay D, Thienpont E, Tu DT, Ugalde HG, Valeriy M, Verhey JT.

J Arthroplasty. 2025 Dec.41(1S1):S277-S284.

PMID: 41176119

FI: 3,8

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2025.10.103

Impact on healthcare and operational outcomes of outsourcing to a private value-based provider: analysis of tertiary hospitals in the Community of Madrid.

Caramés C, Arcos J, Pfang B, Cristóbal I, Álvaro de la Parra JA.

Front Public Health. 2025.13:1652798.

PMID: 41018782

FI: 3,4

http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1652798

Optimized use and performance of culture for periprosthetic joint infection diagnosis: a comprehensive literature review.

Esteban J, Patel R, Aguilera-Correa J-J, Nelson SB, Culture Working Group of the Unified PJI Definition Task Force.

Clin Microbiol Rev. 2025 Dec 11.38(4):e0005425.

PMID: 40965158

FI: 19,3

http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/cmr.00054-25

Infection model of THP-1 cells, growth dynamics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of clinical Mycobacterium abscessus isolates from cystic fibrosis patients: Results from a multicentre study.

Ruedas-López A, Tato M, Lerma L, Esteban J, Muñoz-Egea MC, Toro C, Domingo D, Prados-Rosales R, López-Roa P.

PLoS One. 2025.20(3):e0319710.

PMID: 40163512

FI: 2,6

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319710

Sol-gel technology for rapid and selective detection of S. aureus in biomaterial-related infections.

Solis-Garrido A, Velyt-Vepryk O, Aguilera-Correa JJ, Salar-Vidal L, Esteban J, Jimenez-Morales A.

Surf Interfaces. 2025 Nov 01.76:107874.

PMID: 10.1016/j.surfin.2025.107874

FI: 6,3

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surfin.2025.107874

Phage Therapy for Bone and Joint Infections: Towards Clinical Translation.

Ortiz-Cartagena C, Blasco L, Bleriot I, Esteban J, Del Toro MD, Del Pozo JL, Tomás M.

Antibiotics (Basel). 2025 Nov 21.14(12).

PMID: 41463690

FI: 4,6

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14121187

Bacterial skin colonization with a specific Cutibacterium avidum clade as a risk factor for periprosthetic joint infections-a multicenter study.

Salar Vidal L, Prinz J, Frey PM, Schweizer TA, Böni L, Brugger SD, Brüggemann H, Esteban J, Achermann Y, ESGIAI (ESCMID Study Group for Implant-Associated Infections).

Microbiol Spectr. 2025 Nov 04.13(11):e0051525.

PMID: 41002149

FI: 3,8

http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00515-25

Periprosthetic Joint Infection Caused by Trichoderma: Is It Plausible?

Tiepelyte I, Kadusauskas T, Sirka A, Trebse R, Esteban J, Sinkute G, Vaznaisiene D.

Diagnostics (Basel). 2025 Oct 13.15(20).

PMID: 41153246

FI: 3,3

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15202575

The Rising Impact of HPV Infection in the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Era.

Asensi-Díaz E, Carrillo I, Al-Hayani A, Mejías-Ledesma M, Guadalajara H, Azinovic I, Trsitancho JLD, Vidal LS, Castellano V, García-Olmo D, Górgolas M, Cabello-Úbeda A.

Curr HIV Res. 2025 Oct 14.

PMID: 41102961

FI: 1

http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/011570162X381694250925045507

Effects of an Electronic Patient Reported Outcome Measures (e-PROMs) Program on Symptom Reporting, Use of Healthcare, and Overall Survival in Patients With Lymphoma: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Córdoba R, Del Olmo Rodríguez M, Ramos S, López García A, Morillo D, Pérez-Sáenz MA, Miranda C, Martos R, Beltrán L, Castillo E, Herrero A, Gómez-Meana A, Pfang B, Short Apellaniz J, Arcos-Campillo J.

EJHaem. 2025 Oct.6(5):e70129.

PMID: 40909396

FI: 1,2

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jha2.70129

A Case of Inflammatory Tinea Barbae Acquired by a Barber Shop Client.

García-Rodríguez V, Iglesias-Sancho M, Martín-García M.

Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2025 Oct.116(9):T1015-T1017.

PMID: 40691937

FI: 2,8

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ad.2025.07.011

Polyurethane aerogels doped with modified SiO2 particles: Advanced materials with antibacterial properties for healthcare applications.

Ortega-Portas C, Pinilla-Peñalver E, Sánchez-Silva L, Torrecilla-Sádaba E, Esteban J, Aguilera-Correa JJ.

Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp. 2025 Sep 20.721:137204.

PMID: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2025.137204

FI: 5,4

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2025.137204

SARS-CoV-2 mutant spectrum complexity is an epidemiologically evolvable trait.

Martínez-González B, Soria ME, de Ávila AI, Somovilla P, Aguilar-Sabido C, Mínguez P, Ferrer-Orta C, Salar-Vidal L, Lorenzo-Redondo R, Delgado S, Morán F, Verdaguer N, Gadea I, Domingo E, Perales C.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Sep 30.122(39):e2515706122.

PMID: 40991435

FI: 9,1

http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2515706122

Clinical treatment of mycobacterial prosthetic joint infections.

Ortega-Portas C, Auñon A, Esteban J.

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2025 Sep.23(9):829-841.

PMID: 40685858

FI: 3,8

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14787210.2025.2536837

Prophylaxis of Arthroplasty-related Gram-negative Infections: Efficacy of Levofloxacin-loaded Sol–gel coatings.

Solis-Garrido A, Toirac B, Aguilera-Correa JJ, Mediero A, Esteban J, Jimenez-Morales A.

J Solgel Sci Technol. 2025 Aug 02.116:2623-2641.

PMID: 10.1007/s10971-025-06881-8

FI: 3,2

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10971-025-06881-8

Assessment of Sonication for Diagnosing Implant-Associated Infections in Spinal Surgery Routine Practice.

Torrecilla-Sádaba E, Gabardo S, Mahillo-Fernández I, Ferrer Pomares P, Tome-Bermejo F, Álvarez-Galovich L, García-Cañete J, Esteban J, Mengis C.

Microorganisms. 2025 Aug 14.13(8).

PMID: 40871403

FI: 4,2

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081898

P3MA: A Promising Mycobacteriophage Infecting Mycobacterium abscessus.

Broncano-Lavado A, Aguilera-Correa JJ, Roquet-Banères F, Kremer L, Mediero A, Seoane-Blanco M, van Raaij MJ, Pagán I, Esteban J, García-Quintanilla M.

Antibiotics (Basel). 2025 Aug 06.14(8).

PMID: 40867995

FI: 4,6

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14080801

Measurement of Total and Free Cefiderocol Concentrations in Human Plasma by UHPLC-MS/MS: Application to Patients With Difficult-To-Treat Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections.

Rigo-Bonnin R, Haj CE, Benavent E, Poblet-Florentin J, Pons-Oltra P, Esteban J, Murillo O.

J Sep Sci. 2025 Aug.48(8):e70237.

PMID: 40788192

FI: 2,8

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jssc.70237

Polymicrobial Prosthetic Joint Infections: Unraveling Risk Factors and Outcomes in a Single-Center Study.

Auñón Á, Ortiz I, Peñarrubia S, Álvaro C, Torrecilla-Sádaba E, Garcia-Cañete J, Esteban J.

Microorganisms. 2025 Jul 16.13(7).

PMID: 40732188

FI: 4,2

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13071679

In Vitro Susceptibility to Imipenem/Relebactam and Comparators in a Multicentre Collection of Mycobacterium abscessus Complex Isolates.

Seoane-Estévez A, Aja-Macaya P, Garcia-Pose A, López-Roa P, Ruedas-López A, Gonzalez-Galán V, Esteban J, Arca-Suárez J, Pampín M, Beceiro A, Oviaño M, Bou G, On Behalf Of The Geim-Seimc Study Group.

Antibiotics (Basel). 2025 Jul 05.14(7).

PMID: 40723985

FI: 4,6

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14070682

The inclusion of a Holter Reading software in the clinical practice of cardiology shows a multi-level high positive impact in healthcare: a real-world implementation study in three Spanish hospitals.

Álvaro de la Parra JA, de Asis Diaz-Cortegana F, Gonzalez-Casal D, Sanz-Mayordomo P, Cabrera JA, Campal JMR, Pfang B, Cristóbal I, Caramés C, Garrido-Lestache MEB.

Eur Heart J Digit Health. 2025 Jul.6(4):742-748.

PMID: 40703112

FI: 4,4

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ehjdh/ztaf058

Acute infectious gastroenteritis in childhood: the role of rapid multiplex molecular syndromic panels in diagnosis and clinical management.

Jiménez-Jiménez AB, Galán-Sánchez F, Hortelano MG, Fumadó V, Salar-Vidal L, Ramos-Amador JT, Menasalvas-Ruiz AI.

Rev Esp Quimioter. 2025 Jul 03.38(4):258-277.

PMID: 40607535

FI: 2,2

http://dx.doi.org/10.37201/req/026.2025

Effects of a nationwide teledermatology program on access to care for skin cancer and premalignant lesions in public and private health care: A retrospective case-control analysis of data from eight Spanish hospitals.

Toledo-Pastrana T, Mora D, Martin-Gutierrez F, Fernández Valdés-Martín C, Corrales-Rodriguez A, Pfang B, Villegas García MA, Alcaraz-Leon I, Vicente J, Short Apellániz J, Blanco Rubio A, Herrero A, Del Olmo M, Álvaro de la Parra JA.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025 Jul.93(1):281-283.

PMID: 40120816

FI: 11,8

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2025.03.037

New strategies for the management of biofilms formed by Gram-negative bacteria.

Ortega-Portas C, Esteban J.

Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2025 Jun 17:1-13.

PMID: 40514344

FI: 2,7

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14656566.2025.2519692

Genome sequence of Mycobacterium abscessus phage P3MA.

Broncano-Lavado A, Roquet-Banères F, Kremer L, Russell DA, Jacobs-Sera D, Reidy TG, Aguilera-Correa JJ, Esteban J, Hatfull GF, García-Quintanilla M.

Microbiol Resour Announc. 2025 Jun 12.14(6):e0016925.

PMID: 40401944

FI: 0,6

http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mra.00169-25

Human Mycobacterium bovis infection: A multicentre retrospective study conducted by the Madrid Study Group for Mycobacteria (GEMIMAD).

Sangorrin-Lapieza L, Ruedas-López A, Esteban J, Toro C, Barrado L, Ruiz-Serrano MJ, Anel J, Domingo D, Reyes A, López-Roa P.

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin (Engl Ed). 2025 May.43(5):267-271.

PMID: 40340035

FI: 2,5

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eimce.2024.09.018

Mobile integrons encode phage defense systems.

Kieffer N, Hipólito A, Ortiz-Miravalles L, Blanco P, Delobelle T, Vizuete P, Ojeda FM, Jové T, Jurenas D, García-Quintanilla M, Carvalho A, Domingo-Calap P, Escudero JA.

Science. 2025 May 08.388(6747):eads0915.

PMID: 40338999

FI: 45,8

http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.ads0915

Dermatologists' perception of teledermatology and risk factors for burnout: A cross-sectional study.

Toledo Pastrana T, Paredes Coronel C, Martín Gutiérrez FJ, Fernández-Martín Valdés C, Corrales Rodríguez A, Aspe Unanue L, Casulleras González A, Alcántara Reifs C, Bota Llorca A, Ortega Berbel L, Dios Guillan V, Short Apellaniz J, Del Olmo Rodriguez M, Pfang B, DermaON Quirónsalud Teledermatology Response Group.

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2025 May 07.

PMID: 40331887

FI: 8

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jdv.20715

SARS-CoV-2 biological clones are genetically heterogeneous and include clade-discordant residues.

de Ávila AI, Soria ME, Martínez-González B, Somovilla P, Mínguez P, Salar-Vidal L, Esteban-Muñoz M, Martín-García M, Zuñiga S, Sola I, Enjuanes L, Gadea I, Perales C, Domingo E.

J Virol. 2025 May 20.99(5):e0225024.

PMID: 40272156

FI: 3,8

http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jvi.02250-24

Mucolytic and antibiotic combination therapy using silica-based nanocarriers to eradicate Escherichia coli biofilms.

Aguilar-Colomer A, Jiménez-Jiménez C, González B, Esteban J, Vallet-Regí M, Colilla M, Izquierdo-Barba I.

Nanoscale Adv. 2025 May 27.7(11):3414-3425.

PMID: 40270836

FI: 4,7

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d5na00006h

Bilayer sol-gel system for local prevention in prosthetic joint infections and osteointegration improvement

Jimenez-Morales A, Solis-Garrido A, Toirac B, Mediero A, Costa B, Mulero F, Murillo O, Monclús M, Esteban J, Aguilera-Correa JJ.

Commun Mater. 2025 Apr 10.6(67).

PMID: 10.1038/s43246-025-00790-7

FI: 9,6

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00790-7

Effects of Virtually Led Value-Based Preoperative Assessment on Safety, Efficiency, and Patient and Professional Satisfaction.

Martínez JLG, Coca MÁM, Del Olmo Rodríguez M, Vigoa P, Gómez JM, Apellaniz JS, Coronel CP, García MAV, Serrano JJ, Arcos J, Caramés Sánchez C, Pfang B, Álvaro de la Parra JA.

J Clin Med. 2025 Apr 29.14(9).

PMID: 40364124

FI: 2,9

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm14093093

Burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance among hospitalised patients in Spain: findings from three nationwide prospective studies.

Peñalva G, Cantón R, Pérez-Rodríguez MT, González-López JJ, Rodríguez-Baño J, Barrio-Tofiño ED, Kirkegaard-Biosca C, Sánchez-Romero I, Gutiérrez-Villanueva A, Marrodán-Ciordia T, Guerra-Laso JM, Rosario-Quintana CD, Suárez-Hormiga L, Cámara J, Puig-Asensio M, Heredero E, Sepúlveda MA, Rodríguez-Díaz JC, Merino E, Cercenado E, Villa S, Siller M, Arnaiz F, Seral C, Lepe JA, Cisneros JM, Paño-Pardo JR, BMR_SEIMC Study Group (COLABORADOR:Salar-Vidal L).

Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2025 Apr.51:101220.

PMID: 39958398

FI: 13

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101220

Electromagnetic induction disinfection applied to cemented knee arthroplasty implants: safety evaluation of potential changes in the bone cement.

Cordero García-Galán E, Rezusta FJM, Sarnago H, Burdio JM, Lucía Ó, Esteban J, Gómez-Barrena E.

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2025 Mar 05.36(1):25.

PMID: 40042685

FI: 4,5

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10856-025-06870-x

Complicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum with parasitemia >50.

Morante-Ruiz M, Ortega-Portas C, Betancourt-Cuadra LJ, Górgolas Hernández-Mora M.

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin (Engl Ed). 2025 Mar.43(3):175-176.

PMID: 40037748

FI: 2,5

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eimce.2024.07.010

Could hospitals operating through a value-based healthcare policy overcome potential management drawbacks in European healthcare?

Caramés C, Arcos J, Pfang B, Cristóbal I, Antonio Álvaro J.

Health Policy. 2025 Feb.152:105249.

PMID: 39813829

FI: 3,4

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105249

Finegoldia magna: An Infrequent Guest in Orthopedic Infections.

Gabardo S, Ortega-Portas C, Esteban J, Blanco-García A, Auñón Á.

Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2025 Jan 13.

PMID: 39804733

FI: 1,4

http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/sur.2024.134

Implementing a closed loop clinical decision support system for sustainable preoperative care.

Gracia Martínez JL, Pfang B, Morales Coca MÁ, Caramés Sánchez C, Del Olmo Rodríguez M, Villegas García MA, Short Apellaniz J, Arcos Campillo J, Álvaro de la Parra JA, Manzano Lorefice F, Muñoz Alameda LE.

NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Jan 03.8(1):6.

PMID: 39753745

FI: 15,1

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01371-7