CHU Limoges’ Olivier Barraud: My Passion for Microbiology

Olivier Barraud is a Clinical Microbiologist, Assistant Professor of Microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine of Limoges University, and Hospital Practitioner at Limoges University Hospital Center (CHUL), France. He is responsible, in the Bacteriology-Virology-Hygiene department, for all COMBACTE studies where CHUL is involved (SAATELLITE, EVADE, REJUVENATE, ANTICIPATE, ASPIRE-SSI).

His main area of scientific interest is antibiotic resistance with a special focus on integrons both on fundamental, epidemiological and translational aspects. Translational research is devoted to early diagnosis of infections and resistance and to a better knowledge on how ICU patients are infected.

“At the beginning of my residency, I was not devoted to become a bacteriologist, being more interested in immunology and virology. But when I first discovered bacteriology at the hospital 15 years ago, it was so obvious!

First, and contrary to viruses for example, you see the bug. This is less frustrating and you can form your own opinion before having the formal identification. Second, in this area, things are continuously evolving: epidemiology of resistance, epidemics, emergence of new bugs, new mechanisms of resistance, automation, new devices to shorten diagnostics, etc.

The main reason I decided to specialize in bacteriology is the tight link with the clinicians. This is particularly true in the ICU department of my hospital, where the expression “from bench to bedside” is so real. Not a day goes by without me talking to clinicians. We discuss their patients and infections, I give them early results and advice, answer their questions, or help find the right solution for the right patient (notably with multidrug resistant bacteria). Helped by people as passionate as I am – and I wish to especially thank Prof. François Denis and Prof. Marie-Cécile Ploy – I was definitely convinced that bacteriology was made for me.

After graduating as a clinical microbiologist in 2007, I became member of the INSERM Clinical Investigation Centre of Limoges for 2 years. Here I discovered clinical research and its organizational aspects in the field of ICU patients. In 2011 I defended my PhD on AMR, specifically on integrons that are genetic elements involved in the acquisition and dissemination of antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. Since 2014, I am assistant professor and clinical microbiologist at Limoges University Hospital. I belong to the Inserm unit 1092 working on antimicrobials and molecular supports of resistance.

In the summer of 2016, Dr Bruno François – management board member of COMBACTE-NET and work package lead for SAATELLITE – asked me if I was interested in being part of this European initiative. He suggested that I get involved in a future trial dealing with VAP and Acinetobacter. First surprised, I could not refuse this great opportunity to be on board. This is how I joined the Increase team (International coordination structure for research projects). Together with Elodie Pfender, Marie Lévêque and Dr. François, I am the academic work package leader of the Phase III trial of the Medicines Company program (COMBACTE-NET WP8).

This job is a fantastic way to work closely with the private partners, and to better understand how clinical trials are built. You also learn how things in the field of the emergency trials are perceived by industrial and academic partners. Sometimes, views can differ, but everybody looks in the same direction to reach the same goal. Hundreds of things will have to be handled, hundreds of decision will have to be taken, hundreds of hours will have to be spent on teleconferences. In the end, all these things make up for one common goal: to carry out this amazing and exciting program.”