Eliminating opportunistic pathogens from premise plumbing biofilms in healthcare facilities

This project aims to develop an innovative treatment for improved control of opportunistic pathogens (OPs) that occur in premise plumbing systems of health care facilities. This will be achieved by specific targeted killing of these pathogens in biofilms that inhabit premise plumbing. Greater and more efficient control of these microorganisms will lessen the risk of infectious disease transmission from premise plumbing systems and drinking water distribution systems (DWDS).

The specific objectives are

1. To detect and quantify Legionella and NTM in biofilms from Brisbane hospital premise plumbing and in DWDS using culture based and molecular methods.
2. To develop a novel treatment that causes release of these OPs into the water phase for eradication through disinfection and reduce their presence in the premise plumbing biofilms.

Funding

Metro North Hospital and Health Service

Other Members

Professor Rachel Thomson