RESEARCH PROJECT

Investigating climate driven shifts in Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA for water resource and land management solutions

Investigating climate driven shifts in Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA for water resource and land management solutions

A professor reads off an instrument while her student records information, on the blacksand shore of the bay.
Tracy Wiegner and Louise Economy take water chemistry measurements at Hilo One (Bayfront) sampling location.

Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) abundance are being quantified in association with rainfall and river discharge in Hilo Bay, Hawai‘i Island, in an effort to model how these pathogens vary in response to weather patterns. The abundance of these bacteria is also being determined in soils, sands, rivers, cesspools, and storm water within the Hilo watershed, to gain information on sources of these pathogens to recreational waters. Additionally, MRSA infection rates at the Hilo Medical Center are being compared with the frequency of rainfall events, to assess if community members are more at risk of these infections during the wet season. These data will provide foundational information on how S. aureus and MRSA abundance will respond to a changing climate, and help guide solutions to manage and mitigate the transport of such pathogens to coastal waters.

A student leaning against the railing of a boat out on the water.
Economy surveys Hilo One (Bayfront) sampling location from out on the bay.

Project Collaborators

Primary Contact and Masters Graduate Student

  • Louise Economy (economy@hawaii.edu)

Faculty Advisor

  • Tracy Wiegner, Associate Professor of Marine Science, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo

Committee Members

  • Jonathan Awaya, Associate Professor of Biology, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
  • Ayron Strauch, Commission on Water Resource Management, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources

Partners

  • Chad Shibuya, R.N., Infection Prevention Director, Hilo Medical Center
  • Anne Veillet, Genetics Lab, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
  • Tara Holitzki, Analytical Lab, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
  • Lynn Morrison, Anthropology Dept., University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
  • Noelani Puniwai, Assistant Professor, Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies
  • Dr. Karen Pellegrin, Director of Continuing Education & Strategic Planning, Founding Director of the Center for Rural Health Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
  • Terrance Tanaka, Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant
  • Nick Agorastos, Natural Area Reserves System, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources
  • Lori Ueno, Hawaiʻi Department of Health
  • Ron Kaya, Hawaiʻi Department of Health

Final Report (pdf)

Journal Publication

Staphylococcus in Hilo Bay Big Island Video News Video

UH Hilo Stories: “Climate change research at UH Hilo: Near shore water quality”

PROJECT DETAILS

FUNDED:

FY2016

PI:

Tracy Wiegner
Associate Professor of Marine Science
UH Hilo

Co-PI:

Louise Economy
Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science
UH Hilo

Jonathan Awaya
Professor of Biology
UH Hilo

Ayron Strauch
Commission on Water Resource Management
DLNR

Chad Shibuya
Infection Prevention Director
Hilo Medical Center

Anne Veillet
Genetics Lab
UH Hilo

Tara Holitzki
Analytical Lab
UH Hilo

Lynn Morrison
Anthropology Department
UH Hilo

Noelani Puniwai
Professor of Hawaiian Studies
UH Mānoa Kamakakūokalani Center

Karen Pellegrin
Director of Continuing Education & Strategic Planning
College of Pharmacy, UH Hilo

Terrance Tanaka
Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant

Nick Agorastos
Natural Area Reserves System
DLNR

Lori Ueno
Hawaiʻi Department of Health

Ron Kaya
Hawaiʻi Department of Health