September 10, 2025 | News, Featured, Interview, Front Page, Publication, Revista Lloseta, TDB, Tradition
The University Hospital Son Espases has become the epicentre of the global fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, hosting this week a groundbreaking international course aimed at specialists from across the world. The program focuses on genetic and laboratory techniques to detect and combat superbugs—such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa—that have become resistant to conventional treatments.
For five days, experts from Europe and beyond gathered in Palma to exchange knowledge and train in advanced laboratory methods and genetic analysis. The goal: to understand how bacteria evolve to resist antibiotics and to stop them before they cause more deaths. According to the World Health Organisation, antibiotic resistance already accounts for more than one million deaths annually worldwide—surpassing cancer fatalities.
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Cutting-edge training
The course, organised by the Son Espases Microbiology Department in collaboration with the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), the Carlos III Health Institute, and the University of the Balearic Islands, trained professionals in advanced techniques such as full genome sequencing of bacteria, resistance mechanism analysis, and bioinformatics data interpretation.
These tools allow specialists to determine precisely which antibiotics are no longer effective and which remain viable—information that can be decisive in saving lives.
Focus on Pseudomonas aeruginosa
The program paid special attention to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium particularly dangerous for patients with chronic respiratory conditions like cystic fibrosis. Experts examined its resistance profiles, molecular strategies to evade treatment, and resistance trends across Europe, all intending to strengthen surveillance and improve healthcare responses.
Global impact from Mallorca
The Son Espases research team—led by Dr. Antonio Oliver Palomo and including researchers Carla López Causapé, Estrella Rojo Molinero, and Xavier Mulet Aguiló—is recognised internationally as a leader in superbug research. Their work has been instrumental in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of severe infections across Europe.
From Mallorca, a cutting-edge scientific battle is being waged against a global threat. This course demonstrates how local research can generate international impact in the fight against one of the most pressing health challenges of our time.