Environmental Pathogens
A global population analysis of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Project Summary
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogen. The increasing incidence of hospital and community-acquired S. maltophilia infections is of particular concern because the pathogen is associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients. S. maltophilia is an environmental bacterium found in numerous habitats, including plant rhizospheres, animals, foods, and water sources. There is limited knowledge on the population structure of this bacteria and on the factors that might differentiate environmental and clinical strains.
The aims of this project are to (1) determine the population structure of approximately 300 global S. maltophilia isolates (2) determine whether there are genetic factors that can be used to differentiate clinical and environmental S. maltophilia isolates and (3) determine whether there is a predominant global clone associated with invasive disease.
Project Partners
Monash Medical Centre, Victoria, Australia
The Alfred Hospital, Victoria, Australia
Austin Health, Victoria, Australia
PathWest, WA, Australia
Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), New Zealand