My research interests are in the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and prevention of hospital-acquired infections, especially, but not limited to, infections associated with intravascular catheters and those due to multi-drug resistant pathogens.

Biography

Dr. Leonard A. Mermel, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA is Professor of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Medical Director, Epidemiology & Infection Control Department, Rhode Island Hospital. He was Technical Expert Panel Member, Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System, 2005 President, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). He's past recipient, Ralph A. Kinsella, Sr. Memorial Tribute Award, St. Louis University, SHEA Young Investigator Award, Brown Medical School Department of Medicine Chairman's Award for Outstanding Teaching. He's a member, Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society. He's in Best Doctors in America, America's Top Doctors, Best of Rhode Island - Infectious Diseases Physician, Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Guide to America's Top Physicians, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Science & Engineering. He's co-authored guidelines on intravascular catheter infections and >100 articles on infectious diseases. He lectures & teaches internationally on infectious diseases. His research interest is prevention of hospital-acquired infections.

Institutions

RIH

Research Description

My research has involved investigations of novel strategies to prevent device-related infections, particularly those due to intravascular catheters. This has been pursued by my writing and carrying out study protocols for prospective, randomized multicentered investigations, writing and carrying out laboratory investigations for the in vitro study of novel technologies aimed at prevention of such infections, and in writing evidence-based guidelines regarding the management and prevention of such infections so the gains in research are realized by clinicians.

I have also carried out research on the application of molecular fingerprinting to infection control and hospital epidemiology in an effort to better understand pathogenesis and epidemiology of hospital-acquired and community-acquired infections.

My research has also involved understanding the epidemiology of multi-drug resistant pathogens in the hospital and community setting using case-control or cohort studies.

Lastly, some of my research has involved applying epidemiologic tools to carry out outbreak investigations.

Awards

1)School Scholarship, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1978
2)Post-Certified Scholarship, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 1979
3)Delta Omega, The Honorary Public Health Society, 1980
4)The Ralph A. Kinsella, Sr. Memorial Tribute Award For outstanding qualities of work, leadership, and ability as a house staff officer, St. Louis University Hospitals, 1988
5)Young Investigator Award, To recognize the work of young investigators whose contributions to the field of healthcare epidemiology has been exemplary. Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, 1997
6)Dean's Teaching Excellence Award for BIO 282 Pathophysiology/Infectious Disease, Brown Medical School, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007
7)Teaching Award Chairman's Award for Outstanding Teaching, Department of Medicine, Brown Medical School, 2003
8)Infectious Disease Fellow's Recognition Award for Excellence in Teaching, Brown Medical School, 2004
9)Certificate of Recognition - To recognize teaching efforts & dedication to the highest standards of teaching in BIOL 3653 IMS II: Microbiology/Infectious Diseases, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 2010

Affiliations

MEMBERSHIP IN SOCIETIES
Academic Councilor Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of
America Board of Directors, 1998-1999
Vice President Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of
America, 2003
President-Elect Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of
America, 2004
President Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of
America, 2005
Immediate Past-President Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of
America, 2006
Fellow Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
Fellow American College of Physicians
Fellow Infectious Diseases Society of America
Member Delta Omega, The Honorary Public Health Society
Member American Society for Microbiology
Member Association for Practitioners in Infection Control
Member Rhode Island Public Health Association
Member The Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics
Member National Association of Children's Hospitals and
Related Institutions, Pediatric Prevention Network
Member Evaluation of Processes and Indicators in Infection Control
Study Group

Funded Research

* Principal Investigator of multi-center study
† Co-Investigator of multi-center study
‡Principal Investigator for single center study

Past
1. Catheter dressing† 3 M Healthcare 8/93 $143,000
2. Catheter dressing* Smith & Nephew 10/93 $6,000
3. Legionella Susc RW Johnson 4/94 $1,000
4. Catheter Study I Ohmeda 10/94 $3,000
5. Catheter Study II Ohmeda 1/95 $7,000
6. Catheter Study Ohmeda 6/95 $6,000
7. Treatment of Candiduria† Pfizer 3/95 $6,000
8. Biopatch Study Johnson & Johnson 6/96 $10,000
9. Gen. Research Support 3 M 4/96 $2,500
10. Catheter Study III Ohmeda 11/95 $7,000
11. Catheter Study* Ohmeda 12/96 $207,000
12. General Research Support 3 M 5/97 $5,000
13. VRE Activity of Taurolin Carter-Wallace 12/97 $78,000
14. Catheter Study IV Ohmeda 1/98 $6,500
15. Taurolin-Biolink Study I Biolink 12/98 $15,000
16. Biopatch Study† J&J 6/98 $378,000
17. Implemed Study† Implemed 5/99 $54,000
18. Taurolin-Biolink Study II Biolink 9/99 $18,000
19. C. difficile Study† Ophidian 11/99 $3,500
20. Arrowgard Study† Arrow Int 12/98 $157,000
21. Taurolin Study Carter-Wallace 4/99 $50,000
22. Taurolin IV Study Carter-Wallace 3/00 $78,000
23. S. aureus Study† Ortho-McNeil 4/00 $13,000
24. MBI Gel Study† Micrologix 11/00 $321,000
25. Taurolin Cath Study Carter-Wallace 2/01 $60,000
26. Quasar Study 3 M Healthcare 2/03 $36,000
27. Transparent Dressing Study* 3M 6/05 $13,000
28. TRAPE† JCAHO 6/03 $2,000
29. Antiseptic Foley Catheter Tyco 12/04 $386,000
30. Antimicrobial Catheter Study† Angiotech 6/06 $142,000
31. Use of Computer-Assisted Mgnt Program‡ Lifespan Risk Management 6/05 $50,000
32. MRSA Screening Study I* 3M 10/05 $122,000
32. MRSA Screening Study II* 3M 9/07 $170,000

Teaching Experience

BROWN UNIVERSITY TEACHING ROLES

BIO 307/Infectious Diseases, Course Leader (Rhode Island Hospital site), 1993-P

BIO 274/Pharmacology Group Independent Study Project, Lecturer, 1993-94
BIO 158/Medical Microbiology, Lecturer, 1993-94
BIO 158/Medical Microbiology, Small Group Leader, 2002-04
BIO 540/Community Health, Preceptor, 2005
IMS 282/Infectious Disease Pathophysiology, Lecturer, 1993-97
IMS 282 & 351/Infectious Disease Pathophysiology, Small Group Leader, 1991-99, 2001-05, 2007-10
IMS 282/Infectious Disease Pathophysiology, Co-Course Leader, 1991-93
IMS 282/Infectious Disease Pathophysiology, Course Leader, 1993-97
Faculty Development Workshop, Small Group Leader, 2006

OTHER UNIVERSITY TEACHING ROLES
Advanced Clinical Microbiology II Course, University of Rhode Island, Invited Lecturer, 1998

Public Health Practicum, Infectious Diseases Course, University of Rhode Island, Invited Lecturer, 1998

Visiting Professor, University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics, Lecturer Resident's Conference and, Infectious Disease Research Conference, 2001

Pharmacy Practice, University of Rhode Island School of Pharmacy, Advanced Infectious Disease/Pulmonary Course, Invited Lecturer, 2003

HOSPITAL TEACHING ROLES
Medicine in Action Program, Preceptor, 1994-P

Physical Diagnosis, Preceptor, 1993-1999, 2001-2002

Internal Medicine Ward, Teaching Attending Physician, 1994-2003, 2005, 2008

Infectious Disease Consult Service, Teaching Attending Physician,
1991-P

Resident's Noon Conference, Lecturer, 1991-P

Resident's Morning Report, Faculty Attendee 1991-2005

Critical Care, Hematology/Oncology Fellowships; Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Neurosurgery Residencies, Lecturer, 1997-P

National Youth Leadership Forum in Medicine, Lecturer, 2002


MENTORSHIP
1993 Diego Sanchez†
Epidural catheter infection: epidemiology & pathogenesis Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Malaga, Spain

1993 Marc Fiorentino**
TB skin test status of Brown University housestaff

1994 Dan Miron†
Optimizing intravascular catheter cultures

1994 Andrea Meyerhoff†
Practice habits of physicians who order single set blood cultures Annual Meeting, Infectious Diseases Society of America

1995 William Pomputius†
Epidemiology of central line colonization in a neonatal ICU
Eastern Regional Meeting, Federation for Clinical Research

1995 Iman Ali*
Invasive pulmonary aspergellosis during pregnancy

1999 Emre Noteroglu**
Handwashing & nosocomial infection Brown University Senior Medical Resident Research Day; Brown University Dept. of Medicine Research Forum

2000 Roy Polonio‡
Adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis to foreign bodies M.S. Thesis, University of Rhode Island ; see publication

2001 Joe Maglio**
Epidemiology of community-acquired antibiotic-resistant viridans Streptococcus infections Brown University Senior Medical Resident Research Day; Brown University Dept. of Medicine Research Forum; see publication

2001 Tom Savinelli**
What happens when automated blood culture machines detect growth at night but there's no technicians in the microbiology lab Brown University Senior Medical Resident Research Day; Brown University Dept. of Medicine Research Forum; see publication

2001-2 Richard Yap†
1) Micrococcus infection in prostacyclin recipients
2) Epidemiology of community-acquired antibiotic-resistant viridans Streptococcus infections
1) International Conference on Health Problems Related to the Chinese in North America; see publication
2) See publications

2001-2 Dinusha Dietrich†
Prevalence of community-acquired MRSA infections in children Brown University Public Health Program Research Day; Brown Univ. Pediatrics Dept. Annual Research Day; Annual Hospital Research Celebration; Infectious Diseases Society of America Annual Meeting; see publication

2002-3
Charles Weaver§
Is intraventricular chlorhexidine toxic to the rat CNS

2003-4 Debby Ben-David†
1)Clonal MRSA spread in a burn unit despite reverse isolation and active surveillance
2) The impact of hospital-wide active surveillance on the incidence of nosocomial MRSA infections in an endemic setting
3) The impact of methicillin resistance on length of stay and hospital cost in patients with nosocomial S. aureus bloodstream infections
4) Implementing hospital-wide active surveillance for methicillin-resistant S. aureus in Rhode Island hospitals 1)Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, see publication

2) Annual Meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology; see publication

3) Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy

4) Annual Meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology

2003-4 Eric Walsh§§
Microbial colonization of tourniquets used in orthopaedic surgerySee publication

2004 Lana Kang§§
Management of contaminated autogenous bone during orthopaedic surgery
Annual Meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology; see publication

2005 Arthi Rao†, Shadaba Asad†
Acute rheumatic fever in Rhode Island

2005 Shadaba Asad†
Transfusion-related babesiosis in Rhode Island See publication

2006-7 Kari Simundson & Nicole Alexander†
Screening for community-acquired MRSA

2007 Lauri Hicks†
Control of MRSA in Rhode Island's hospitals Annual Meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology

2007 Eleni Patrozou†
1) Does influenza transmission occur from asymptomatic infection or prior to symptom onset?
2) An MRSA cluster in security guards 1) See publication
2) See publication

2007 Jess Thompson†† Financial burden of nosocomial infections Masters of Public Health Thesis; see publication

2007 Anna Barbosa** MRSA carriage in house officers Brown University Senior Medical Resident Research Day; Rhode Island American College of Physicians Meeting; see publication

2007 Phil Chan**
1) Multi-drug resistant bacteria in retail meats
See publication

2008 Steve Kassakian*
Chlorhexidine bathing and hospital-acquired infection risk 5th Decennial International Conference on Nosocomial Infections; See publication

2008 Omega Edwards† Trong Trinh**Phil Chan† Brian Hollenbeck
Staph aureus bacteremia from peripheral IV catheters See publication

2008; 2011 Manuel Lam* Aleksey Novikov*
Resistance to Antimicrobial Catheters

2008 Aleksey Novikov* Aartik Sarma° Leah Seward°Jen Fieber°
Clostridium difficile diagnostics American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting

2009 Brian Hollenbeck**
Legionella diagnostic testing

2009 Phil Chan† Natasha Rybak*** Ignacio Echenique** John Mills** Sarah Andrea*** Emily LaVeen** Russell McCulloh† Cheston Cunha** Kim Chapin
Differences in signs and symptoms of influenza-like illness of various viral pathogens Infectious Diseases Society of America Annual Meeting

2009 John Mills**
Carbepenemase-resistant bacteria in nursing home residents Brown University Senior Medical Resident Research Day (selected 'Best Poster'); see publication

2010 Ajar Kochar*
Medical students knowledge of infection control

2010 Jonathan Grossberg**** Heather Spader****Extraventricular drain infections

* Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Student
** Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Internal Medical Resident
*** Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Medicine-Pediatrics Resident
**** Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Neurosurgery Resident
† Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Infectious Disease Fellow
‡ University of Rhode Island Dept. of Biochemistry & Microbiology Graduate Student
§ Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Neurosurgery Resident
§§ Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Orthopaedics Resident
†† Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Program in Public Health
°Brown University Graduate Student Dept. of Engineering

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