Investigating climate driven shifts in Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA for water resource and land management solutions
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.
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
PROJECT DETAILS
FUNDED:
FY2016
PI:
Tracy Wiegner
Associate Professor of Marine Science
UH Hilo
Graduate Scholar:
Louise Economy
Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science
UH Hilo
Co-PI:
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