Infectious Diseases

Ruth Adekunle, M.D.

adekunle@musc.edu

Study Name: Transplant candidacy among persons with HIV and End-Stage Renal Disease
Study description: This is a retrospective chart review study that aims to better understand what barriers persons with HIV (PWH) experience in access to kidney transplantation at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). MUSC has a large catchment area for transplantation and given that MUSC is the only transplantation center in South Carolina, it is the only available transplant center for many PWH. Identifying where patients are falling off the multistep process towards transplant can help improve the number of PWH who are evaluated and waitlisted for transplantation.

Study Name: Psychosocial assessment for HIV-positive ESRD candidates: Does assessment correlate with outcomes?
Study Description: This is a retrospective chart review study that aims to better understand what psychosocial factors most influence kidney transplantation outcomes at the Medical University of South Carolina. MUSC is the only transplantation center in South Carolina and thus the only access to transplantation for many PWH. Identifying which psychosocial factors most correlate with transplant outcomes could lead to programmatic interventions aimed at enhancing access to transplantation and improved transplant outcomes for this population.

 

Scott Curry, M.D.

currysr@musc.edu

We have previously had a 4th year medical student complete a chart review project to examine the impact of reporting C.difficile on treatment decisions for adults and children with viral gastroenteritis. Another student did a wet lab project enumerating how much C. difficile is present in marine waters around Charleston Harbor. We have a variety of wet lab and clinical research projects that could involve medical students.
https://medicine.musc.edu/departments/dom/divisions/infectious-diseases/research/labs-and-centers/curry-lab

 

Susan Dorman, M.D.

Professor of Medicine
Director for Infectious Diseases and Cardiovascular Global Health Director
Tuberculosis Control Program, DHEC
dorman@musc.edu
843-792-4542

The Division of Infectious Diseases provides care for patients with mycobacterial infections, most notably MTB. Dr. Susan Dorman provides leadership for this care at MUSC as well as directs control efforts for our tri-county area through the Department of Health and Environmental Control. Medical student opportunities for research within the area of tuberculosis are available and include analysis of existing data from clinical studies, quality improvement projects, and analysis of existing data from the South Carolina DHEC Tuberculosis Control Program.

 

Jessica Lewis, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Director for Transplant Infectious Diseases
Program Director, Infectious Diseases
lewisje@musc.edu
843-792-4542

The Division of Infectious Diseases within the Department of Medicine provides subspecialty care for Solid Organ Transplant and Stem Cell Transplant patient cohorts. This activity creates several different clinical research opportunities including epidemiological descriptions by transplanted organ with regards to infectious complications. In particular, the rate of multi drug resistant organisms (MDRO) is much higher for these patient populations. Potential research opportunities for students include mentored projects to study the risk factors for MDRO, and organ specific antibiograms for the most commonly encountered organisms.

 

Richard Lueking, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Medicine
lueking@musc.edu
843 792-4541

Study Name: Evaluation of clinical outcomes in Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with earlier initiation of dual antimicrobial salvage therapy

Study description: This is a retrospective study to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients that are placed on dual antimicrobial salvage therapy for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus blood stream infections stratified by timing of initiation. In general, regimens like vancomycin/ceftaroline or daptomycin/ceftaroline are reserved for MRSA blood stream infections that continue for 7-10 plus days. Our goal is to determine if earlier initiation results in faster clearance of blood cultures and thus improves mortality and morbidity.

 

Eric Meissner, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Medicine and Microbiology/Immunology
Director of HIV and Hepatitis C Research and Clinical Services
meissner@musc.edu
843-792-4542

The Division of Infectious Diseases within the Department of Medicine provides care for patients affected by chronic viral infections such as HIV and Hepatitis C. These are challenging patient populations for many reasons including medical and social issues. In order to provide the highest quality of care for our HIV and Hepatitis C cohorts, we maintain clinical database repositories. Information housed in the repositories includes demographics, clinical characteristics such as lab values, co-morbid conditions, and treatment regimens. Active clinical research projects suitable for students are:

Analysis of the association of clinic visit adherence, depression, and alcohol use with HIV virology suppression.
Analysis of clinical and demographic variables that predict successful linkage and presentation to care to ID clinic for HCV infection.