drvazquezGuillermo J. Vazquez, M.D.

Educational Background:

  • University of Puerto Rico, Pre-Medical Education, 1970
  • Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, Doctor in Medicine (MD), 1974
  • San Juan City Hospital, Puerto Rico, Internal Medicine Residency, 1977
  • Medical College of Virginia, Infectious Diseases Fellowship, 1979

Academic Position:
Professor of Medicine and Microbiology

Chairman, Dept. of Microbiology and Zoology

Academic Address, Telephone & E-Mail:
Dept. of Microbiology and Zoology,
University of Puerto Rico-School of Medicine,
P.O. Box 365067, San Juan, P.R. 00936-5067.
Phone: (787)758-2525 ext. 1309; (787) 756-7110
Fax: (787) 756-7110
E-mail: guillermo.vazquez1@upr.edu

Field of Interest:

  • Molecular epidemiology of MRSA isolates from PR hospitals
  • Molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in multidrug resistant gram-negative bacilli
  • Characterization of plasmids harboring KPC beta-lactamase gene and its genetic background in selected isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii collected from PR Hospitals

Publications

  • Martínez T, Vázquez GJ, Aquino EE, Ramirez-Ronda, R, Robledo IE. 2012. First Report of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolate Co-Harboring KPC-2 and IMP-18 Carbapenemases. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 39:542-3, 2012.
  • Martínez, T, Vázquez, GJ, Aquino, EE, Goering, RV, Robledo IE. Two novel class I integron arrays encoding IMP-18 metallo-beta-lactamase gene in P. aeruginosa clinical isolates from Puerto Rico. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 56:2119-21, 2012
  • Robledo, IE, Vázquez, GJ, Moland, ES, Aquino, EE, Goering, RV Thomson, KS, Santé, MI, Hanson, ND. Dissemination and Molecular Epidemiology of KPC-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Collected in Puerto Rico Medical Center Hospitals During a 1-Year Period. Epidemiology Research International Volume 2011, Article ID 698705, 8 pages doi:10.1155/2011/698705; Hindawi Publishing Corporation;
  • Thomson KS, Robledo IE, Vázquez GJ, Moland ES. KPC Screening by updated BD Phoenix and VITEK 2 Automated Systems. J Clin Microbiol 49:3386-3387, 2011.
  • Robledo, IE, Aquino EE, Vázquez GJ. Detection of KPC gene in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii during a PCR-based nosocomial surveillance study in Puerto Rico. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 55:2968-70, 2011.
  • Robledo I.E, Aquino EE, Santé MI, Santana JL, Otero DM, León CF, and Vázquez GJ. Detection of KPC in Acinetobacter sp. in Puerto Rico. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Antimicro Agent Chem. 54: 1354, March 2010
  • Christopher J. Gregory MD, MPH, Eloisa Llata MD, Nicholas Stine MD, Carolyn Gould MD, Luis Manuel Santiago MS, Guillermo J. Vazquez MD, Iraida E. Robledo PhD, Arjun Srinivasan MD, Richard V. Goering PhD, and Kay M. Tomashek MD, MPH. Outbreak of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Puerto Rico Associated with a Novel Carbapenemase Variant Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. 31:5476,May, 2010.
  • Lledo W, M Hernandez, E Lopez, MD, OL Molinari, MD, RQ Soto, MD, E Hernandez, N Santiago, M Flores; GJ Vazquez, MD, IE Robledo, MD, E García-Rivera, MD, A Cortes, M Ramos, R Goering, PhD, Creighton A Srinivasan, MD, C Gould, MD, N Stine, M Bell, MD, K Anderson, B Kitchel, B Wong, JK Rasheed, PhD, J Patel, PhD, K Tomashek, MD, E Llata, MD, CJ Gregory, MD, EIS officers, CDC. 2009. Outbreak of Carbapenem Resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae– Puerto Rico, 2008; Infection Prevention Control Guidance from the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). MMWR March 20, 58(10);256-260. 2009
  • Wolter DJ, Khalaf N, Robledo IE, Vázquez GJ, Santé MI, Aquino AE, Goering RV, and Hanson ND. Surveillance of Carbapenem Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Puerto Rico Medical Center Hospitals: Dissemination of KPC and IMP-18 β-lactamases. Antimicro Agent Chem. 53:1660-1664.2009.
  • Magno P, DE Jesus-Aponte R, Vazquez GJ, Garrastegui D, Torres EA. 2008. Abdominal pain and weight loss in an HIV-infected patient. J Dig Dis. 2008; 9:48-51. 2008.
  • Carrer M, Vázquez GJ, Lebrón RI, Mercado X, Martínez I, Vázquez, CO, Santé M, and Robledo IE. The microbial etiologies of diarrhea in hospitalized patients from the Puerto Rico Medical Center hospitals. PR Health Sciences Journal 24:41-44. San Juan, PR. 2005.
  • Vázquez GJ, Robledo IE, Arroyo A, Nadal E, Rodríguez R, Bermúdez M, and Colón M. A comparison of the antimicrobial resistance patterns of gram-negative bacilli isolated from community-private and university-affiliated hospitals from PR. PR Health Sciences Journal 22:265-271. 2003.
  • Vázquez GJ, Robledo IE, Arroyo A, Nadal E, Rodríguez R, Bermúdez M, and Colón M. A comparison of the antimicrobial resistance patterns of gram-positive cocci isolated from community-private and university-affiliated hospitals from Puerto Rico. PR Health Sciences Journal 22(2):131-136. 2003.
  • Rodríguez JL, Vázquez GJ, Bermúdez M, De Orbeta J, and García Y. Prospective study using standardized methodology for antimicrobial susceptibility of gram-positive cocci isolated from the Puerto Rico Medical Center. PR Health Sciences. 21(4):343-347. 2002.
  • Hewitt RG, Yiannoutsos CT, Higgs ES, Carey JT, Geiseler PJ, Soave R, Rosenberg R, Vázquez GJ, Wheat LJ, Fass RJ, Antoninievic Z, Walawander AL, Flanigan TP, and Bender JF. Paromomycin: no more effective than placebo for treatment of cryptosporidiosis in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. Clin. Infect. Dis. 31(4):1084-92. 2000.
  • Ferrer-Rodríguez I, Vázquez GJ, Córdova GJ, and Serrano AE. Diagnosis of malaria by polymerase chain reaction. P.R. Health Sciences Journal 18(2):99-103. 1999.
  • Jacobson JM, Greenspan JS, Spritzier J, Ketter N, Fahey JL, JacksonJ.B., Fox, I., Chernoff, M., WU, A., MacPhail LA, Vázquez GJ, and Wohl DA. Thalidomide for the treatment of oral aphthus ulcers in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. NEJM, 336, pp. 1487-1493, 1997.
  • Dunne DW, Hillyer GV, and Vázquez GJ. Schistosoma mansoni cationic egg antigen (CEF6) immunoserology with oxamniquine-treated patients and involvement of CEF6 in the circumoval precipitin reaction. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 38(3) 508-514. 1988.
  • Nash TF, García Goyco C, Ruíz Tiben E, Nazario López HA and Vázquez GJ: 1983. Differentiation of acute and chronic schistosomiasis by antibody responses to specific schistosome antigens. American J. of Trop. Med. Hyg., 32(4) 776-784.
  • Oliver González J and Vázquez GJ: 1983. Preservation of Schistosoma mansoni eggs and infected livers as source of eggs for Circumoval Precipitin Test. J. Parasitology 69(2), 277-279.
  • Archer GL, Johnston JL, Vázquez GJ and Hoywood HB 3rd. 1983. Efficacy of antibiotic combinations including rifampin against Staphylococcus epidermidis: In vitro and in vivo studies. Rev. Inf. Dis., July-August 5, Suppl. 3, S538-542.
  • Rodríguez J, Vázquez GJ, Bermúdez RH, Luiña A and Ramírez Ronda CH: 1982. A randomized study of ceftizoxime and cefamandole in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, November, 10 Suppl. C., 209-213.
  • Archer GL and Vázquez GJ: 1980. Antibiotic prophylaxis of experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis. Endocarditis due to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, November 142(5), 725-31.
  • Quiñones R, Vázquez GJ and Ramírez-Ronda CH: 1980. Pulmonary nocardiosis: Presentation of a case and review of the literature. Bol Asoc Med PR, April 72(6): 176-7.
  • Ramírez-Ronda CH, Vázquez GJ, Ramírez-Ronda RA and Bermúdez RH: 1980. Sexually transmitted diseases. Part I: Gonococcal infection. Boletín Asoc. Médica de Puerto Rico, Vol. 12:251-264.
  • Archer GI and Vázquez GJ: 1979. Antibiotic therapy of experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis: Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy. Vol. 17:280-285.
  • TOTAL 116 ARTICLES CITATION as reported by SciVerse Scopus on Feb 21, 2013 (www.scopus.com) “Scopus is the largest abstract and citation database of research literature and quality web sources.”

Abstracts

  • Thomson GK, Robledo IE, Vazquez GJ, Snyder JW, Thomson KO. Comparison of 7 Commercially Prepared Media for Detection of KPC-producing Bacteria. Abstract of the 113th General Meeting American Society for Microbiology, Denver, Colorado, May 18-21, 2013.
  • Martínez-Torres T, Vázquez GJ, Aquino EE, Santana JL, Santé MI and Iraida E Robledo. Analysis of KPC-positive Gram-Negative Bacilli Clinical Isolates for the Periods of 2009 and 2012. Abstract 33rd Annual Research and Education Forum, UPR-MSC, March 13-15, 2013
  • Thomson KS, Robledo IE, Vázquez GJ, Seeking Active Agents Against KPC-producing Acinetobacter baumannii (KPCAB). Abstr. 52th Intersci. Conf. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., Chicago IL; Sept 9-12, 2012.
  • Thomson KS, Robledo IE, Vázquez GJ, Moland ES. Antibiotic Selective Pressure and KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP). Abstr. 51th Intersci. Conf. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., Chicago IL; Sept 17-20, 2011.
  • Martínez T, Vázquez GJ, Aquino EA, Robledo IE. Characterization of IMP-18 metallo-beta-lactamase gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected in Puerto Rico. XXX1 RCM Research and Education Forum, UPR-MSC. May 5, 2011 (C-163).
  • Jetsen A. Rodríguez, Edna E. Aquino, Guillermo J. Vázquez and Iraida E. Robledo. Plasmid Typing of KPC Positive Acinetobacter baumannii. Abst. Annual Biomedical research Conference for Minority Students. November 10 – 13, 2010, Charlotte, North Carolina, 2010.
  • Moland ES, Robledo IE, Vázquez GJ, Thomson KS. KPC Screening by BD Phoenix and VITEK 2 Abstr. 50th Intersci. Conf. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. Boston, MA; Sept 12-15, 2010. (D-745).
  • Goering R.V., Rivera R., Aquino E.E., Vázquez G.J., Goering R.V., Robledo I.E. mec-Associated dru typing identifies emergence of unique USA 300 community associated-methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA_MRSA) in Puerto Rico (PR) Hospitals. Abstr. 50th Intersci. Conf. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. Boston, MA; Sept 12-15, 2010. C2-1500a
  • Robledo I.E., Aquino E.E., Goering R.V., Vázquez G.J. Detection of IMP-18 metallo-beta-lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) Collected in Puerto Rico. Abstr. 50th Intersci. Conf. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. Boston, MA, Sept 12-15, 2010.
  • Robledo I.E., , Aquino E.E., Vázquez G.J. Identification of CTX-M Genes in KPC Positive Escherichia coli (Ec), Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa), and Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) During a PCR-Based Surveillance Study in Puerto Rico (PR). Abstr. 50th Intersci. Conf. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. Boston, MA, Sept 12-15, 2010.
  • Rivera R, Aquino E.E., Vázquez G.J., Goering R.V., Robledo I.E. Characterization of Community Acquired-Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) Isolated from 4 Hospitals in Puerto Rico (PR). Abstr. 50th Intersci. Conf. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. Boston, MA, Sept 12-15, 2010.
  • Aquino E.E., Vázquez G.J., Robledo I.E. Plasmid Analysis of KPC Positive Escherichia coli (Ec) Transconjugants Derived from Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) Collected in Puerto Rico. Abstr. 50th Intersci. Conf. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. Boston, MA to be held in Sept 12-15, 2010.
  • Moland E.S., I. E. Robledo, G. J. Vazquez, K. S. Thomson. Antibiotic selection pressure and KPC β-lactamase. Abstract of the 110th General Meeting American Society for Microbiology, to be held in San Diego, California in May 23- 27, 2010.
  • Robledo I.E., Aquino E.E. and Vázquez G.J. Detection of KPC and other Beta-lactamases (BLs) in Acinetobacter species (AS), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) and Escherichia coli (EC) during a PCRbased surveillance study in Puerto Rico (PR). Abstr. 49th Intersci. Conf. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. San Francisco, CA. USA; Sept 12-15, 2009.
  • LLata E, Gregory C, Stine N, E. Lopez E, Laboy O, Soto RQ, Hernandez M, Lledo W, Hernandez E, Santiago N, García E, Cortes A, Vázquez GJ, Robledo IE, Patel J, Tomashek K, Srinivasan A and Gould C. Investigation of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae in Hospital A, Puerto Rico, 2008. Abts. 553 19th Society for Health Care Epidemiology of America, to be held on March 19-22, 2009, San Diego, CA.
  • Fernández C, Maldonado M, Aquino EA, Vázquez GJ, Santé MI, Robledo IE. First report of KPC-4, a carbapenem hydrolyzing enzyme in K. pneumoniae isolates in PR. XXVIII RCM Research and Education Forum, March 12-14, 2008, San Juan, PR.
  • Robledo IE, Vázquez GJ, Aquino EA, Moland ES, Santé MI, and Hanson ND. A Novel KPC Variant, KPC-6, in a Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) Isolated in Puerto Rico (PR). Abstract C2-3738 of the 48th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) and the 46th Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), October 25 to 28, 2008, Washington, DC.
  • Robledo IE, Vázquez GJ, Aquino EA, Moland ES, Santé MI, and Hanson ND. Dissemination and Molecular Epidemiology of KPC Producing K. pneumoniae (Kp) Collected in the Puerto Rico Medical Center Hospitals (PRMCH) During 2003-04. Abstract C2-3734of the 48th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) and the 46th Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), October 25 to 28, 2008, Washington, DC.
  • Robledo IE, Vázquez GJ, Moland ES, Aquino EE, Santé MI, and Hanson ND. First Report of K. pneumoniae (Kp) and E. coli (Ec) Isolated from Puerto Rico Medical Center Hospitals (PRMCHs) Producing Multiple b-Lactamases. Abst. 56th American Soc. of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). Nov. 4-8, 2007, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Robledo IE, Vázquez GJ, Moland ES, Aquino EE, Santé MI, Bertrán J, and Hanson ND. First Report of KPC-4 Detected in Clinical Isolates of K. pneumoniae (Kp) and E. coli (Ec) from Puerto Rico (PR). Abst. 56th American Soc. of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). Nov. 4-8, 2007, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Wolter DF, Vázquez GJ, Robledo IE, Santé MI, Goering RV, and Hanson ND. Detection of KPC Carbapenem Hydrolyzing b-lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) from the Puerto Rico Medical Center Hospitals (PRMCHs). Abst. 47th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC). Sept. 16-20, 2007, Chicago, Il.
  • Robledo IE, Moland ES, Aquino EE, Vázquez GJ, Santé MI, and Hanson ND. First Report of a KPC-4 and CTX-M Producing K. pneumoniae (Kp) Isolated from Puerto Rico (PR). Abst. 47th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC). Sept. 16-20, 2007, Chicago, Il.
  • Lebrón-Ramos RI, Vázquez GJ, Alemar J, Nadal E, Gómez-Duarte C, Chinea B, Tomasini J, and Robledo IE. Antimicrobial resistance and genotypic characterization of Helicobacter pylori clinical isolates from Puerto Rico. Abst. C-254, 105th American Soc. for Microbiology. Atlanta, GA. June 5-9, 2005.
  • Ballesté CR, Vázquez GJ, Matos I, Gutiérrez S, Lebrón RI, Santé MI, and Robledo IE. Antimicrobial susceptibility of extended spectrum Beta-lactamases (ESBLs) positive Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) and Escherichia coli (EC) clinical isolates from the Puerto Rico Medical Center. Abst. #359, 42nd Infectious Diseases Soc. of America, Boston, ,Massachusetts Sept. 30 – Oct. 3, 2004.
  • Nadal E, Vázquez GJ, Robledo IE, Arroyo A, Rodríguez R, and Bermúdez M. Comparison of the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of gram-negative bacilli isolated from community private and university-affiliated hospitals from PR. American College of Physicians and Amer. Soc. of Internal Medicine PR Chapter. San Juan, PR. Feb. 13-15, 2003.
  • García M, Vázquez GJ, Robledo IE, Alemar J, Chinea B, Villafaña M, Gómez C, and Tomasini J. Antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular characterization of H. pylori isolates from Puerto Rico: Preliminary Report. Amer. College of Physicians and Amer. Soc. of Internal Medicine PR Chapter. San Juan, PR. February 13-15, 2003.
  • Alemar J, Vázquez GJ, Aquino E, and Robledo IE. Susceptibility patterns of Helicobacter pylori isolates from Puerto Rico. Biomedical Research Forum. San Juan, PR. April 18-19, 2002.
  • Arroyo A, Vázquez GJ, and Robledo IE. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolated bacteria from university affiliated and community hospitals from PR for the year 2000. Biomedical Research Forum. April 18-19- 2002.
  • Hewitt RG, Yiannoutsos CT, Carey J, Geiseler PJ, Soave R, Rosenberg R, Vázquez GJ, Wheat J, Fass RJ, Higgs ES, Antoninjevic Z, Walawander AL, Flanigan T, and Bender J. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of paromomycin for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in patients with advanced HIV disease and CD4 counts under 150. 4th Conf. on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. Washington, DC (USA). January 22-26, 1997.
  • Rivera-Castaño R, Vázquez GJ, Gadea CR, Cancel , Menar R, and Torres LJ. Efficacy and tolerance of norfloxacin vs. Ampicillin plus probenedic in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea. 2d World Congress on Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Paris, France. (June 1986).
  • Gorbea HF, Hillyer GV, Rodríguez JR and Vázquez GJ. Correlation of serological and coprological parameters in 17 patients with chronic S. mansoni (SM). 25th ICAAC. Minneapolis (USA). (September 1985).
  • Yaugo B, Vázquez GJ, Baid I, and Bermúdez R. Ceftizoxime vs. Cefotaxime vs. Moxalactam therapy of high risk patients with pneumonia. 24th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Washington, D.C. (USA). (October 1984).
  • Hernández N, Rodríguez JP, Vázquez GJ, and Robles M. Efficiency of oral oxaminiquine for the treatment of chronic S. mansoni infection in Puerto Rico. 23th ICAAC. Las Vegas, NV (USA) (1983).
  • Harrington P, Nevárez M, Vázquez GJ, and Ramírez Ronda CH. Comparative effectiveness and safety of piperacillin and carbenicillin: A prospective randomized trial. 12th International Congress of Chemotherapy. Florence, Italy. (1981).
  • García Goyco C and Vázquez GJ. Oral oxamniquine for the treatment of S. mansoni infection. Research Week. San Juan, PR (1980).
  • Betz TG, Fiorilli M, Vázquez GJ, Sánchez Longo JP, Sotomayor ZR, and Sánchez G. Spinal cord involvement by S. mansoni in Puerto Rico. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Atlanta, GA. (Nov. 1980).
  • Vázquez GJ and Archer GL. Antibiotic prophylaxis of experimental S. epidermidis endocarditis. Southern Section
  • Vázquez GJ and Archer GL. Antibiotic therapy for experimental S. epidermidis endocarditis. 19th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agent and Chemotherapy. Boston, MA (1979).