A. J. Mathers

Tailpiece Heating device for effective prevention of biofilm growth in sink plumbing

A tailpiece heating device prevents biofilm growth in sink plumbing by heating the drain area, effectively reducing bacterial colonization.

The unintended consequences of a surge in antibiotic resistance when removing wastewater drain biofilm

This study shows that replacing contaminated sink drains with new plumbing increases antimicrobial resistance genes and Enterobacterales abundance due to disrupted biofilms.

Multi-omic surveillance of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in hospital sink drains and patients

The paper shows hospital sink drains are colonized by diverse E. coli and Klebsiella strains, including resistant ones, and may contribute to patient infections.

The Role of fosA in Challenges with Fosfomycin Susceptibility Testing of Multispecies Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Producing Clinical Isolates

This study evaluates fosfomycin susceptibility testing in KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates and finds that fosA gene presence affects test accuracy, with sodium phosphonoformate improving results.

Klebsiella quasipneumonaiae provides a window into carbapenemase gene transfer, plasmid rearrangements and nosocomial acquisition from the hospital environment

The paper tracks K. quasipneumoniae's acquisition of carbapenemase plasmids and environmental persistence in a hospital setting over multiple years.

Droplet rather than Aerosol Mediated Dispersion is the Primary Mechanism of Bacterial transmission from Contaminated Hand Washing Sink Traps

The study investigates bacterial transmission from contaminated sink traps, finding that droplet dispersion, not aerosolization, is the primary mechanism, with bacteria associated with larger droplets that settle quickly.