Antibiotic Research Laboratory

The Antibiotic Research Laboratory (ARL) is involved in the surveillance of antibiotic resistance within Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region.

The main focus of the laboratory is the SENTRY surveillance program. This program, currently funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb, was initiated by researchers in Iowa to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information about the prevalence of bacterial pathogens as well as their resistance patterns. Approximately 16 institutions from 7 different countries throughout Australia , Asia and Africa contribute isolates for antimicrobial susceptibility testing against up to 30 antibiotics.

The ARL is the referral centre for the South Australian invasive pneumococcal surveillance study.

Research Activity

Many multi-resistant bacteria of interest are being investigated using a variety of phenotyping and molecular methods. Areas of interest include:

• vancomycin resistant Enterococcus spp. (VRE) and Staphylococcus aureus (VISA)
• methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
• extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL)
• metallo-ß-lactamases (MBL) in Gram-negative organisms
• ß-lactamase negative ampicillin resistant (BLNAR) Haemophilus influenzae
• quinolone resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Salmonella spp.
• ribotyping

Hours

Contact details

Unit Head

Jan Bell

 

Location

Level 5, Reiger Building

Mailing Address

Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Women's and Children's Hospital
72 King William Road
North Adelaide
South Australia 5006

Phone/fax/email

Ph (08) 8161 6359

Fax (08) 8161 6051

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