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Melbourne researchers have used cutting-edge genomics technology to show a strain of a bacteria can be transmitted to patients from machines commonly used to regulate body temperature during cardiac surgery.

Mycobacterium chimaera is a bacterial pathogen which has previously been linked to heating and cooling units in hospitals in the Northern Hemisphere.

The infection can cause serious illness; however, it may be treated with antibiotics. Three cases of the infection have been reported in Australia聽鈥� two in New South Wales and one in Queensland.

In a collaboration with sites across Australia and New Zealand, researchers from the (Doherty Institute) have confirmed that the units are the source of the Mycobacterium chimaera transmitted to patients.

from the analysis of 48 Mycobacterium chimaera samples obtained between May 2015 and July 2016聽鈥� the majority from the heating and cooling units in question, plus five from patients聽鈥� were published recently in the

The deputy director of the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory at the Doherty Institute, Dr Deborah Williamson, said it鈥檚 thought the units had been pre-contaminated at manufacture.

鈥淲e think aerosols from the contaminated heater and cooler units drop into the sterile field during surgery and cause an infection,鈥� Dr Williamson said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very hardy pathogen and, because it causes a latent infection, symptoms may not appear for months after surgery.

鈥淲e have uncovered this major public health problem using whole-genome sequencing technology and through national and international data sharing. In addition, we are developing a rapid diagnostic test for machine contamination and to detect Mycobacterium chimaera infection in patients.鈥澛�

The scientific director of Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Professor Tim Stinear, leads the team responsible for the test development.

鈥淲e have identified fragments of DNA that are present only in this pathogen and used this unique signature to develop this new test,鈥� Professor Stinear said.

鈥淭his test could be used to detect the bacteria in the units before use or to test for the infection in patients after cardiac surgery, potentially saving lives.鈥�

Image credit: 漏stock.adobe.com/au/BillionPhotos.com