78: Culture Medium for Isolation of Haemophilus Influenzae

Development and Evaluation of New Selective Culture Medium for Isolation of Haemophilus Influenzae from Cystic Fibrosis Patients ($6,426) – Mr Stephen Tristram

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common lethal genetic conditions among caucasion people and significantly Tasmania has one of the highest rates of CF in the world at around 1 case in every 1650 births. Chronic respiratory infection leading to an irreversible decline in lung function is the main cause of illness in CF patients, with more than 95% of deaths due to respiratory failure.

Laboratory tests to provide accurate identification of potential pathogens from the respiratory tract of CF patients is critical to ensure appropriate treatment and to improve our understanding of the microbial aspects of the pathogenesis of this disease.

A new culture method has been developed by researchers at the School of Human Life Sciences in Launceston, that will hopefully enable laboratories to detect a potential pathogen that has previously been difficult to detect. The method is being trailled at a number of large cystic fibrosis centres throughout Australia.