CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

STAFF

Professor Emeritus:

Brautbar, C., Ph. D.

Associate Professors:

Moses, A.E., M.D. (Head of Department)

Block, C., M.B. B.Ch. Ph. D.

Shapiro, M., M.B. Ch.B.

Polacheck, I., Ph.D.

Clinical Associate

Professor: Maayan, S., M.D.

Senior Lecturers:

Wolf, D., M.D.

Strahilevitz, J., M.D.

Israel, S. Ph.D.

Lecturer:

Nir-Paz, R., M.D. (Currently Research Fellow in U.S.A.)

Instructor:

Cohen, R., M.D. (Currently Research Fellow in U.S.A.)

Fellows in Infectious Diseases:

Olshtein, K., M.D.

Elinav, H. M.D.

Fellow in Clinical Microbiology:

Adler, A., M.D.

Fellows in Infectious Diseases:

Benenson, S., M.D.

Averbukh, D., M.D.

Guslitser, T., M.D.

Temper V., M.D.

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases incorporates units of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Clinical Virology, the AIDS Center and Tissue Typing. The Units of Clinical Microbiology and Clinical Virology are responsible for the routine microbiological diagnostic services for the wards and outpatient clinics of the Hadassah University Hospitals at Ein Kerem and Mount Scopus, and conduct laboratory tests and environmental surveillance. The department is responsible for the control of hospital-acquired infections, and provides a consultation service in clinical infectious diseases, including control of antibiotic use. Out-patient clinics for infectious diseases and for AIDS control and treatment are run weekly. The Clinical Virology unit is a WHO center for influenza.

Prof. Allon E. Moses studies the molecular pathogenesis, virulence factors and epidemiology of group A and group G beta-hemolytic streptococcal infections and other streptococci.

Prof..Colin Block's specific interest focuses on meningococcal disease in Israel, and on antimicrobial susceptibility to biocides or disinfectants. He is intimately involved in studying the emergence of resistant organisms and nosocomial infections.

Prof. Mervyn Shapiro studies the emergence of resistant bacteria, antibiotic use, and molecular epidemiology of infections caused by nosocomial pathogens.

Prof. Itzchak Polacheck studies the pathogenic mechanisms of the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans; development of new antifungals and novel drug delivery systems, and resistance mechanism of non-albicans yeasts.

Prof. Shlomo Ma’ayan studies genetic variations in the AIDS virus, and AIDS vaccines.

Dr. Dana G. Wolf focuses on the pathogenesis and molecular detection of human cytomegalovirus infection and disease; emergence of antiviral drug resistance in transplant recipients using direct genotypic analysis and studies the process of viral maturation as a target for novel antiviral drugs. Recent studies include the mechanism of transmission and disease in congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Dr. Jacob Strahilevitz studies mechanisms of resistance of Staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative bacteria to quinolones.

Dr. Shmuel Benenson is responsible for Infection Control at the Hadassah Medical Center. The year 2006 has been declared at Hadassah as "The year of Infection Control". Many resources and efforts are put into programs aimed at improving patient safety through infection control measures.

RESEARCH AREAS