Microbiome of Driveline Exit Sites

The goal of this proposal is to study patient’s individual clinical factors and antibiotic footprint and correlate this with their microbiome and the development of colonization and/or infection with antimicrobial resistant pathogens. My role as the prinicipal investigator on this project stems from two decades of experience in the fields of infectious diseases and medical microbiology and special expertise in the management of ventricular assist device infections. I have served as a member of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, its Infectious Diseases Operating Board, and Standards and Guidelines Committee. I have co-authored the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice Guidelines for VAD Infections and Organ Transplantation. My research interests have included epidemiology and management of multidrug-resistant pathogens in the VAD and organ transplant populations. Combining our clinical expertise with your expertise in microbiome and genetic research is ideal partnership to decrease infectious complications in this population with advanced heart failure with few other treatment options.