Microbiology Research Laboratory
The BioMed Centre has a fully equipped purpose built research laboratory facilitating many areas of basic scientific research.
Basic Bacteriology
Catheters and urine samples taken from patients during routine clinics or clinical trials can be processed immediately to allow the identification of bacteria that are responsible for causing infection and subsequent complications.
Encrustation Studies
The laboratory has glass bladder models for monitoring the development of catheter-blocking crystalline biofilms under standardised laboratory conditions. The bladder model is an important tool in the development of new devices for managing urinary incontinence. Preliminary tests can be undertaken to assess the ability of devices to resist encrustation and blockage by Proteus mirabilis biofilms before taking them to clinical trials.
Examples of tests performed in the bladder model:
- Comparison of the abilities of currently available catheters to resist encrustation.
- Evaluation of novel catheter designs.
- Assessment of the efficacy of novel catheter coatings in inhibiting the encrustation process.
- Testing the effect of manual and automatic valves on the catheter encrustation process.
- Development and assessment of the value of novel strategies for inhibiting crystalline biofilm formation on catheters.
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
The extent of encrustation deposited on devices can be assessed quantitatively by measuring the amounts of calcium and magnesium using atomic absorption spectroscopy.
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Visual assessment of the extent of encrustation on catheters and other devices can be made using a Low Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscope.
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