Clinical Services
The Division of Clinical Microbiology provides guidance and strategic inputs throughout the entire UPMC system. The Division directly provides comprehensive microbiology services to several UPMC hospitals, key among them are the academic core in the city of Pittsburgh (UPMC Presbyterian, Shadyside, Magee-Womens, Mercy, and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh). Centers of excellence are maintained in all facets of diagnostic microbiology, covering bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, virology, obstetric and gynecological infections, neonatal infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and molecular testing. The Clinical Microbiology Laboratory serves as a reliable resource in these areas for the UPMC System. The Division maintains active consulting relationships with Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention and Control. The Clinical Mycobacteriology Laboratory provides reference laboratory services for the Allegheny County Health Department and local tri-state area. The Clinical Virology Laboratory uses cutting-edge technologies and 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. Clinical service, research and education at the Division of Clinical Microbiology are combined to provide the best possible clinical care.
Research Activities
Members of the division are involved in both clinical and basic research. Our current research includes:
- Evaluation of the performance and clinical impact of new diagnostic technologies.
- Development and evaluation of new molecular diagnostic assays and their clinical application for accurate, cost-effective and timely laboratory testing.
- Molecular detection, epidemiology and genomic evolution of emerging and re-emerging viruses in humans and animals.
- Epidemiology and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
- Surveillance, transmission and control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), multidrug-resistant bacteria , Clostridioides difficile, and Candida auris.
- Role of the laboratory in antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship
Teaching
Members of our division are active in a variety of teaching venues, both as lecturers and small group sessions leaders:
- School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
- Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
- Laboratory rotations for medical students, University of Pittsburgh
Pathology Resident Training
The division conducts an eight-week core rotation in clinical microbiology for pathology residents. During this time, residents receive a comprehensive educational experience covering the breadth of infectious disease laboratory diagnosis. Pathology residents are exposed at the bench level to all areas of clinical microbiology, including bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, mycobacteriology and virology. Opportunities to rotate through several different clinical microbiology laboratories provides exposures to testing geared for a diverse range of patient populations. Division faculty provide education in the clinical interpretation of microbiological and virological results. Pathology residents can expect to gain an extensive, unparalleled experience on clinical microbiology testing during the rotation.
Clinical Fellow Training
Clinical fellows from the Division of Infectious Disease and Division of Molecular & Genomic Pathology are provided with a two-week rotation in the clinical microbiology and virology laboratories and monthly didactic sessions thereafter. During the rotation, clinical fellows are integrated into the daily operations of the laboratory and are involved in consulting with clinicians about clinical test selection and interpretation and assay troubleshooting.
Faculty
- Nathan C. Clemons, PhD, D(ABMM)
- Hannah Creager, PhD, D(ABMM)
- Tung Phan, MD, PhD
- Bryan Stevens, MD
- William Pasculle, ScD - Emeritus