A 50-thousand dollar grant is helping an Otago University researcher stop bad bacteria in its tracks.

Monica Gerth is undertaking work to stop the formation of biofilms - bacteria which come together and glue themselves to a surface.

Biofilms are estimated to be responsible for nearly two-thirds of all human infections, including serious complications following joint implant surgery - such as knee and hip replacements.

She says once biofilm related infections happen in implants, they're almost impossible to get rid of.

"Often what ends up happening is they have to take the implant back out again which obviously has a lot of complications and is not good for the patient at all," she says.