Leena Bhattacharya Mithal

I am a Pediatric Infectious Diseases specialist at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, with a particular academic interest and clinical expertise in infections affecting newborns and infants. I am passionate about improving accurate diagnosis of sepsis and appropriate antibiotic use in infants through research and education.

My clinical-translational research focus is to improve early, reliable identification of neonatal sepsis. Through several collaborative projects, I study aspects of neonatal sepsis diagnostics including biomarkers of immune response and molecular pathogen detection using proteomics and metagenomics techniques in umbilical cord blood. I am also interested in perinatal management of maternal infection risk, including intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. By understanding sepsis mechanisms and microbe-host interactions and applying this knowledge to development of novel clinical approaches, we can improve neonatal outcomes and judicious use of antimicrobials. My other research interests include congenital cytomegalovirus, the link between perinatal microbiome and neurobehavioral development, and molecular diagnostics.

As an Infectious Diseases physician, I diagnose and treat a variety of severe and atypical infections in infants and children. I have a special interest in infants and complex infections in the neonatal intensive care unit. I also lead the evaluation and treatment of neonates with congenital cytomegalovirus infection at Lurie Children’s. Other clinical interests include bacterial sepsis, bone and joint infections, device-related infections, and tuberculosis.