A science fair experiment by a Cape Girardeau high school student has captured national attention from the medical community thanks to a Poplar Bluff doctor.

Robert Felker found that the family microwave provides an easy and inexpensive way to sterilize catheters. Poplar Bluff urologist Dr. S.D. Madduri saw Felker's Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair project and continued the research with his own patients and found that the idea works.

Felker is a freshman at DePaul University in Chicago and plans to study Spanish and marketing.

The idea began with his brother Brent's science fair project several years ago.

Brent Felker microwaved dirt and tested how well plants grew. He found that the microwave sterilized the dirt.

Robert Felker built on that discovery and wondered if the microwave could be used for sterilization in the medical field.

"But there's not much that can be sterilized that isn't already," he said. His father, Cape Girardeau urologist Russell Felker, suggested catheters. Urology patients often use catheters at home, which are washed with soap and water but not sterilized between uses.

Using traditional science fair techniques, Felker tested the process and found that microwaving works.

Dr. S.D. Madduri accompanied his own child to the science fair and while strolling through the exhibits noticed Felker's display on microwave sterilization.

"I thought it was a decent idea," Madduri said.

The doctor conducted a clinical study with his Poplar Bluff patients.

"He did what I wanted to do," Felker said, "take the project one step farther, use human subjects. It turned out exactly the way my project predicted."

Patients who microwaved the catheters had fewer infections.

Madduri presented the results to the American Urology Society two weeks ago in Vail, Colo.

"I give full credit to Robert," Madduri said. Felker and Madduri are listed as co-authors. Felker is probably the only high school student to author a paper for the group.

Felker won at the regional science fair and competed at the international science fair against high school students who had identified genes on DNA. "I was just sterilizing catheters. But what were they going to do with a gene?" Felker asked. "Almost everyone has a microwave. The process is very simple. I think it's very practical."

Madduri agrees. "My patients are doing it on a regular basis. The patients are happy. So am I. Hopefully the urologic community will catch on."

Madduri said the microwave also can be used to sterilize baby bottle nipples.