Infectious Diseases | Research

The Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases is recognized for outstanding research related to childhood infections. A major research focus within the Division is the molecular basis of the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. Along these lines, Drs. Haslam, Hunstad, McKinney and Miller have been studying uropathogenic E. coli, enterohemorrhagic E. coli, Salmonella, Yersinia, Klebsiella, and Haemophilus. A second area of active investigation is molecular diagnostics, including both the development and the application of new diagnostic reagents. In recent years, Drs. Storch, Buller and Arens have developed molecular tests for the detection of HIV, herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, varicella zoster virus, human herpes virus 6, human herpes virus 8, enteroviruses, parvovirus B19, Bartonella spp., Ehrlichia spp, Toxoplasma gondii, and Bordetella pertussis. Dr. Arens has also been involved in applying molecular methods to identify antiviral resistance in HIV and cytomegalovirus. Dr. Storch is also interested in antibiotic resistance and has initiated a collaboration with community physicians to study resistance in S. pyogenes and S. aureus. Dr. Elward is interested in nosocomial infections and is studying hospital-acquired infections in the PICU, aiming to identify risk factors and strategies for prevention. Dr. McGann is involved in multi-center HIV trials.