Larry Kenneth Kociolek

My research interests are in the areas of healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention and control, particularly Clostridium difficile infections. I am exploring various aspects of C. difficile infection, including clinical and molecular epidemiology, diagnosis, antibiotic resistance, and host immune response. The primary aims of my K23-funded translational research are to optimize the diagnosis of C. difficile infection by validating several existing and emerging diagnostic testing strategies in children with the ultimate goal of accurately differentiating C. difficile colonization and infection. Other areas of investigation includes the use of whole genome sequencing to assess antibiotic resistance determinants and virulence factors of emerging strains of C. difficile, namely DH/NAP11/106, as well as identifying transmission and evolution of C. difficile clones in a pediatric population.

Healthcare epidemiology; infection prevention and control; Clostridium difficile; bacterial genomics

All areas of pediatric infectious diseases, with a particular interest in healthcare-associated infections, Clostridium difficile infection, and infections caused by antibiotic resistant organisms.