Good bugs fight urinary infection

Analysing urine is not a glamorous job but The University of Queensland’s Dr Mark Schembri is hoping it will lead to better treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs).

For the last year, Dr Schembri and his team of scientists has stockpiled more than 1000 bacteria from urine samples at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Dr Schembri hopes to identify "good" bacteria that will prevent harmful bacteria from causing UTIs.

UTIs can lead to kidney failure and can only be treated by antibiotics which aren’t always effective.

About 250,000 Australians develop a UTI each year and more than 50 percent of women will experience at least one infection in their lifetime.

Dr Schembri, one of eight UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award winners, has isolated several strains of good bacteria which can prevent infection.

The UQ School of Molecular and Microbial Science Senior Lecturer said these bacteria could outgrow harmful bacteria in the bladder.

He will study the genome sequence of one of the good bacterial strains in collaboration with scientists from the Technical University of Denmark.

Dr Schembri, from Middle Park, said having any bacteria in the urinary tract was not usually good but it was unavoidable for some patients.

“These people might have long-term urinary catheters, such as patients who have a spinal chord injury,” Dr Schembri said.

“The bacteria can grow on the catheter surface in thick clumps and are virtually impossible to remove.

“The whole principle of this is that if you can get the good guys in before the bad guys, then maybe you can keep the bad guys out.”

Dr Schembri said his proposed treatment could benefit all patients with chronic and recurrent UTIs, not just those with urinary catheters and the elderly.

His one-year UQ research award is worth $75,000 to extend his UTI work which has also been supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

The University of Queensland’s outstanding research achievements are being celebrated during Research Week 2006 from September 18 to 22.

The event is designed to raise awareness of current UQ research among the university community, the general public, industry, government and the media.

For details of this year’s program visit http://www.uq.edu.au/research-week/

Media inquiries: Dr Mark Schembri (07 3365 3306) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (3365 2619).