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NCPST awarded funding for MRSA eradication

The National Centre for Plasma Sensor Technology (NCPST) at Dublin City University and the Royal College Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) have been successful in a joint bid to the Health Research Board (HRB) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) for funding for cutting-edge research to investigate the detection of environmental reservoirs of healthcare associated infections (HCAI) and the application of plasma technology in the eradication of MRSA, Clostridium difficile and other pathogens. The funding was announced today, Wed 6 June, by Ministers for Health and Research.

Dr.Stephen Daniels from Dublin City University Electronic Engineering and NCPST and Professor Hilary Humphreys from the RCSI will lead the three year research programme which will inform and influence current approaches to the assessment and control of hospital hygiene and result in improvements in hospital hygiene with improved patient safety.

Healthcare-associated infections affect 5-10% of patients admitted to hospital. The decontamination of the hospital environment is critical in preventing HCAI. Currently, microbiological assessments of hospital hygiene take days and decontamination regimens are either sub-optimal, e.g. detergents and disinfectants, or toxic and disruptive, e.g. hydrogen peroxide. With colleagues in the UK, the USA and Germany, Dublin City University and  the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and will assess in vitro and on hospital wards the sensitivity and specificity of conventional culture techniques using different approaches to detect overall environmental contamination, and will optimise rapid culture and polymerase chain reaction-based techniques to detect the presence of important causes of HCAI such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and C. difficile. They will also validate in vitro that decontamination with gaseous plasma is achieved using the most sensitive techniques in a laboratory environment but with surfaces similar to those normally found on a hospital ward. Gaseous plasma will be optimised for use in a simulated environment with common items of hospital equipment, e.g. bed frames and compared with surface disinfectants and gaseous agents, e.g. hydrogen peroxide. They will also evaluate on several hospital wards the impact of on the elimination of bacterial contamination.Dr James Reilly T.D., Minster for Health said:

'The Translational Research Award initiative focuses on areas most likely to generate results and benefits for health and long-term economic development. Research leading to informed action is crucial. Knowledge derived from research is paramount in providing the evidence-base for better health policies and systems; systems that underpin effective and efficient health service provision. In addition, it strives to encourage and reward more efficient and effective collaboration between academics and healthcare professionals engaged in translational research. The funding announced today will help to speed up the translation of these promising research ideas into real world outcomes and benefits.'

Also addressing the event, Mr Seán Sherlock T.D., Minister for Research and Innovation said:

'A core objective of the Translational Research Award programme is to increase support for internationally-competitive research in Ireland. The focus is on bringing scientific researchers and clinicians closer together to deliver health benefits to patients. This can be achieved by converting basic research findings into innovative strategies, products or services that assist in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of human diseases and infections such as superbugs, heart attacks and cancer. Furthermore, some of these research projects involve active collaborations with multinational healthcare and pharmaceutical companies engaged in the development of novel diagnostics and drugs. We must continue to work together to ensure that the discoveries made in Irish labs are translated into health and economic benefits.'