Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery A Centre of Research Excellence hosted by The University of Auckland
17 November 2010
Superbug threats in New Zealand
Rheumatic fever and ESBLs, and the rapid spread of diseases via international travel emerged as some of the greatest
infectious disease threats facing New Zealand at yesterday’s New Zealand Superbugs Symposium convened by the Maurice
Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery.
“The symposium brought together around 350 medical professionals and scientists to discuss the bacterial disease threats
in this country and the holistic approaches needed to combat them – from low-tech solutions like good hospital hygiene
through to high-tech solutions from science such as new diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines,” said Associate Professor Rod
Dunbar, Director of the Maurice Wilkins Centre.
“Scientists at the Maurice Wilkins Centre focus on discovering of new treatments and diagnostics for major human
diseases and a large part of our work deals with infectious diseases. By identifying the infectious diseases that should
be the priority for research we can make the best use of this world-class expertise.”
The importance of tackling infectious diseases was highlighted by epidemiologist Associate Professor Michael Baker from
the University of Otago who presented new data on their rising burden in New Zealand. “Until fairly recently the
conventional wisdom was that infectious diseases were disappearing. In fact our research shows that over the last 20
years the burden of infectious disease in New Zealand has increased significantly. Infectious disease as a cause of
hospitalisations rose from 18 to 26 percent in the period 1989 to 2008, which translates to 20,000 extra hospital
admissions each year,” he said.
“There have also been increasing inequalities. Maori and Pacific people have around twice the chance of being
hospitalised due to infectious diseases compared with people of ‘European or Other’ ethnicity and this reflects a
significant rise over the last 20 years.”
Dr Sally Roberts, a clinical microbiologist and infectious disease physician at Auckland District Health Board, said
that one of the greatest challenges facing clinicians is the rise of anti-microbial resistant organisms like ESBLs that
are becoming a problem not only in hospitals but are spreading the community. Diseases caused by Streptococcus pyogenes,
such as rheumatic fever, and the spread of antimicrobial-resistant organisms within healthcare settings were also major
clinical concerns.
“It is valuable for clinicians to meet with a group of scientists doing the basic research that can help us to answer
some of these questions and to allow future collaboration between the medical and scientific community. We don’t often
meet in these forums to discuss problems in this manner and this day has been fantastic for that,” she said.
A panel discussion held at the conclusion of the symposium highlighted the importance of both basic preventive measures
such as good hospital hygiene, and collaboration between scientists and the medical community to learn more about of
infectious diseases and develop new treatments and diagnostics.
“The spread of antimicrobial organisms from one patient to another happens via the hands of healthcare workers in
contact with colonised patients, and good hand hygiene practices are important to reduce this,” emphasised Dr Roberts.
Panellists urged national commitment to tackling rheumatic fever, bringing together clinical and scientific expertise to
understand the reasons for its high prevalence in New Zealand, particularly in Māori and Pacific communities, and to
develop better drugs and vaccines. They highlighted the need for research on ESBLs to understand their transmission and
develop new ways of reducing their spread.
An update by Maurice Wilkins Centre Principal Investigator Professor Bill Denny on his work with the Global Alliance for
TB Drug Development to create new drugs for tuberculosis, including a lead compound expected to enter clinical trials
soon, was particularly welcomed by the panel. Also highlighted in the discussion was research presented by Dr Stephen
Ritchie from The University of Auckland investigating the reasons for increased rates of Staphylococcus aureus in Māori
and Pacific people, including the possible role of genetic differences in addition to socioeconomic factors.
Notes
The Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery is New Zealand’s Centre of Research Excellence for the discovery
of new treatments and diagnostics for human disease. The Centre brings together leading biologists, chemists, and
computer scientists to target serious diseases, focusing on infectious disease, cancer and diabetes. It includes
researchers with world-class reputations for inventing new drugs against these diseases, several of which are in
clinical trials.
The Centre is hosted by The University of Auckland and brings together researchers from six New Zealand Universities,
three Crown Research Institutes and a private research institute: The University of Auckland, University of Otago,
Victoria University, University of Waikato, University of Canterbury, Massey University, Industrial Research Limited,
Plant & Food Research, AgResearch, and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research.
www.mauricewilkinscentre.org
ENDS