Dr Mark Schembri

Analysing urine is not a glamorous job but UQ’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. He has already isolated several strains of ‘good’ bacteria.

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.

The UQ School of Molecular and Microbial Science Senior Lecturer said these "good" 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 said having any bacteria in the urinary tract 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."

Dr Schembri’s UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award is worth $75,000 and his work is also supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

• Dr Mark Schembri www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/schembrima.html

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