The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals could be greatly reduced thanks to research from the University of Queensland and Queensland Health.
A team including Dr Patrick Harris and Dr Brian Forde from UQ’s Clinical Research Center used whole genome sequencing as a surveillance tool to quickly identify, track and disrupt pathogens that cause serious infections associated with healthcare (HAI).
Dr. Harris said HAIs were common and linked to poorer patient outcomes and excess health care-related costs.
“More than 9 per cent of people admitted to hospital in Australia will acquire an AHI and the cost of treatment is a huge burden on an extended health system,” Dr Harris said.
“The impact is compounded by rising rates of antimicrobial resistance.
“If resistant bacteria cause serious illness, such as bloodstream infections, mortality rates can reach 20 percent.”
The four-year study compared antibiotic-resistant bacteria collected from patients in Queensland hospitals to identify genomic links and, in turn, patient-to-patient transmission.
“Traditional infection control and diagnostic methods cannot accurately trace the bacteria that cause these infections or detect transmission events in hospitals,” said Dr. Harris.
“But genomic testing can prevent hundreds of infections, saving millions of dollars in excessive health care costs and ultimately reducing patient suffering and death.”
The research team sequenced and compared the genomes of more than 3000 different bacteria to provide an early warning of clustering, a key signature of likely hospital transmission.
Dr Forde said the key to the project’s success was the continued use of genomics as a surveillance tool.
“Deploying sequencing in this way meant we could identify, track and interrupt the transmission of these bacteria in real time,” Dr Forde said.
“Using genomics with available epidemiological data we were also able to discriminate between hospital and community transmission and direct the infection control response where it was most needed.”
The project, which was funded by Queensland Health, demonstrated that the routine application of real-time genomic surveillance for HAIs is feasible.
“Although difficult to implement, genomics-based infection prevention strategies are likely to become the new gold standard,” said Dr. Forde.
“The considerable costs associated with running this service as a service would be justified by the potential savings to the healthcare system and improved prevention of HAIs in vulnerable patients.”
The research, funded by Queensland Health’s Queensland Genomics programme, has been published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Media:
Dr. Patrick Harris, p.harris@uq.edu.au, +61 (07) 3346 5476; Dr. Brian Forde, b.forde@uq.edu.au, +61 (07) 3346 5474; UQ Communications, med.media@uq.edu.au+61 (0)436 368 746.