Barbara Hasse

VASGRA Cohort Study

The Vascular graft cohort study (VASGRA) is an ongoing single-center research project at the University hospital Zurich dealing with adults aged 18 years or older with an implanted vascular graft and/ or prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI). It was established in 2013. There is a clear separation between hospital infrastructure and research budget, implementation of a quality control programs and research by nested projects. VASGRA is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF). Our research goals are:

Epidemiology

• Determine the incidence and outcome of complications after vascular graft placement
• Determine risk factors, best treatment strategies, and outcome of PVGI
• Determine the influence of different antibiotic regimens on outcome of PVGI due to different bacterial pathogens
• Imaging techniques
  

• Determine accuracy of PET/CT in the assessment of treatment response in PVGI
• Determine accuracy of MRI, angio-CT and PET/CT for the diagnosis of PVGI

Microbiology

• Determine the bacterial diversity of vascular wounds using broad range PCR
  
• Determine the impact of negative pressure wound therapy on bacterial
  
• diversity in PVGI using broad range PCR

Biomarkers

• Determine cut-off levels of blood leucocytes count, ESR, CRP and
  
• procalcitonin raising suspicion of a PVGI

Histopathology

Evaluate histopathological features of tissue and excised vascular grafts

Basic Research

• In a collaboration with the Laboratory of Prof Dr. A. Zinkernagel we will examine whether antibiotics interfering with protein synthesis affect bacterial biofilm formation.
  

Collaborators

ENVALVE Cohort Study

The Endovascular and cardiac valve infection cohort study (ENVALVE - ENdovascular and cardiac VALVEinfection Registry: New Pathogens and Diagnostic Possibilities) is an ongoing single-center research project at the University hospital Zurich dealing with adults aged 18 years or older with an endovascular infection. It was established in 2018.

• Epidemiology of infective endocarditis
• Accuracy of current diagnostic tools (TTE, TEE, PET/CT)
• Microbiology of infective endocarditis
• Biomarkers and Biobank
• Determine cut-off levels of blood leucocytes, ESR, CRP and procalcitonin raising suspicion of IE.

Collaborators

• Dr. med. Michelle Frank, Heart center, USZ (Principle Investigator)
• Prof. Dr. med. Carlos Mestres, Heart center, USZ
  

• PD Dr. med. A. Breitenstein, Heart center, USZ
• PD Dr. Dr. med. P. Bode, Institute of Molecular Pathology, USZ
• PD Dr. med. R. Büchel, Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, USZ
• PD Dr. med. A. Flammer, Heart center, USZ
• PD Dr. med M. Greutmann, Heart center, USZ
• Dr. med. Ch. Gruner, Heart center, USZ
• Prof. Dr. med. F. Ruschitzka, Heart center, USZ
• Prof. Dr. med. F. Tanner, Heart center, USZ
• Prof. Dr. med. R. Zbinden, Institute of Medical Microbiology, UZH
• Prof. Dr. med. A. Zinkernagel, Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, USZ 

Clinical Research Priority Program (CRPP) „Precision medicine for bacterial infections": 

Recurrent or chronic infections are an unsolved clinical problem despite the availability of antibiotics to which the bacteria are susceptible. Bacteria isolated from recurrent or chronic infections may be in a dormant, non-growing state, tolerate antibiotic challenges and are capable of resuming growth. These bacteria are called persisters. Persisters are protected from antibiotics, which target processes in growing cells.

As clinical scientists, we have the vision of improving the outcome of our patients suffering from chronic and recurring bacterial infection as well as identifying patients at risk and prevent chronic infections. In-depth characterization of both the patient as well as the pathogenic bacteria will help selecting custom-tailored antimicrobial therapy thus aiming to reduce the duration of antimicrobial treatment as well as avoiding extensive surgery, while at the same time reducing relapse rates. Improved and patient tailored microbiological diagnostics combined with biomarkers and imaging will help to optimize the necessary treatment duration.

With this research project, we aim to establish a multidimensional assessment of individual patients with bacterial infections combining clinicians, clinical microbiologists and computational biologists/scientists in order to improve diagnosis, treatment and outcome of chronic bacterial infections, namely endovascular, bone and prosthetic joint as well as skin and soft tissue infection

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Publications CRPP (PDF)

HIV and Aging: 

In the setting of long term successful antiretroviral therapy (ART) conditions referred to as “metabolic” or potentially related to premature aging, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, neurocognitive dysfunction, renal and endocrinologic disorders, are increasingly important determinants of the long term health of HIV-positive individuals. Their exact frequency, impact, and pathogenesis are not completely defined, including the relative contribution of traditional risk factors, demographic, HIV- and ART-related, genetic, and other factors. The Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) core project “Metabolism and Aging” (M+A) is a 6-year project that started recruiting patients ≥45 years of age in late 2013. It includes obtaining fasting urine and plasma samples, assessing bone mineral density using DXA, neurocognitive assessment by a neuropsychologist and in participants from the Zurich and Geneva center additionally assessing subclinical coronary atherosclerosis by coronary CT angiography.

In the NAMACO study, which is integrated in the “Metabolismus und Aging" project, the role of HIV in neurocognitive disorders is investigated in depth. 

http://www.shcs.ch/

Research Collaborations

• Prof. Dr. med. Philip Tarr, University Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases Service, Kantonsspital Baselland, University of Basel, Bruderholz

• PD Dr. med. Helen Kovari, Zentrum für Infektionskrankheiten; Klinik im Park, Klinik Hirslanden im Park, Zurich
• Dr. med. Diana Frey, Department of Rheumatology, USZ, Zurich
• Prof. Dr. med. Matthias Cavassini, Service des maladies infectieuses, CHUV Lausanne, Lausanne (PI Namaco Study)
• Dr. med. Ilias Jelcic, Department of Neurology, USZ, Zurich (Namaco Study)

Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology
Barbara Hasse; MD
University hospital Zurich
Raemistrasse 100
8091 Zurich

Phone.+41 44 255 92 37