Kate Anthony
Melissa Wilberger
After spending most of the summer of 2009 working on a research project, class of 2012 students Katie Anthony and Lissa Wilberger both say their summer research was a worthwhile and challenging experience. Neither of them had much research experience going into the project, but under Dr. Bermudez’s guidance, they gained confidence in their research abilities and the procedures they performed. Based on bacteriologic survey, it was established that highly antibiotic-resistant Enterobacter sp. were being isolated from infection of the VTH patients. They examined hospital records belonging to patients admitted during the past five years, all of which had Enterobacter infection. They also collected environmental samples for culture and identification by PCR, and retrieved previous patients’ Enterobacter isolates and tested them in the lab for possible presence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase genes (CTX-M, OXA-3, SHV, TEM and AMP-C). They also tested the susceptibility of the isolates to beta-lactam antibiotics.
By participating in this project the students learned the value of networking, the labors of laboratory work, and the frustrations of inconclusive results. They also enjoyed the friendships created with those integral in the study of Enterobacter. Currently, Katie and Lissa are preparing a paper to present the findings of this hospital infection study. Overall, their summer research showed them the importance of quality research and the level of commitment it requires.
