Division of Clinical Microbiology

Faculty

  • A. William Pasculle, ScD
    -- Bacteriology, Mycobacteriology, Mycology, Molecular Identification, Infection Prevention and Control
  • Charles R. Rinaldo, PhD
    -- Virology, Molecular Virology, Antiviral Drug Resistance, HIV/AIDS, Herpes Viruses
  • Nahed Ismail, MD, PhD
    -- General Clinical Microbiology, OB/GYN Microbiology, Neonatal Microbiology, Virology and Molecular Testing, Parasitology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  • Rahman Hariri, PhD
    -- General Clinical Microbiology
  • Robert Wadowsky, ScD
    -- Pediatric Microbiology, Pediatric Molecular testing

Clinical Services

The Division provides diverse and comprehensive microbiology services to UPMC Presbyterian, Shadyside, Magee Womens, and Mercy Hospitals and Pediatric Molecular testing at Children’s Hospital. We maintain centers of excellence in bacteriology, mycology, virology, OB/GYN and neonatal infections, sexually transmitted diseases, molecular testing and mycobacteriology. We also serve as a resource in these areas for other hospitals of the UPMC System and as a mycobacteriology reference laboratory for the tri-state area and the Allegheny County Heath Department. We maintain active consulting relationships with the divisions of Infectious Diseases at these institutions and with the divisions of Infection Prevention and Control of the respective hospitals as well. The Clinical Virology Laboratory provides state-of-the-art services for rapid and accurate diagnosis of viral infections for optimal patient care within the UPMC hospital system and affiliated clinics.

Research Activities

Members of the division are involved in both clinical and basic research. Our current research includes:
  • Transmission and control of multiply resistant bacteria, Clostridium difficile, Acinetobacter and MRSA.
  • Host defenses and immune responses in Ehrlichia and other tick-borne infections
  • One of the longest-running studies of the natural history of HIV/AIDS in the country
  • AIDS clinical trials
  • Dendritic cell therapy in AIDS
  • Quantitation of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in peripheral blood
  • Loop-mediated isothermal amplification for the detection of infectious agents

Teaching

Members of our division are active in a variety of teaching venues, both as lecturers and small group sessions leaders:
  • School of Medicine, Methods in Logic and Medicine, Microbiology/Infectious Diseases
  • Graduate School of Public Health Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
  • Laboratory rotations for medical students

Training

The division conducts an eight-week core rotation for pathology residents which exposes them to virtually all areas of the laboratory. Residents are exposed at the bench level to bacteriology, mycology, parasitology and mycobacteriology. Clinical correlation and problem-solving are provided through active participation in the activities of the Infectious Disease clinical services.

Pharmacy residents are provided with a one-month residency in the microbiology laboratory where they receive much the same instruction as the pathology residents.

Fellow Training

Fellows from the Division of Infectious Disease are provided with a one-month rotation in the microbiology laboratories as well. They receive much the same instruction as the residents.

The division currently does not maintain a fellowship program in Microbiology but we are currently in the process of creating an approved fellowship.

Visit the Clinical Virology Laboratory website