Richard B. Thomson , PhD, D (ABMM)

• Undergraduate: Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, B.S., 1971.  Major:  Biology
• Post Graduate:  Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, M.S., 1976
• Post Graduate:Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ph.D., 1980
• Fellowship: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, Post-doctoral Fellow (Medical Microbiology and Public Health, 1980 - 1982

• Diplomate, American Board of Medical Microbiology - Certified 1987; Recertified 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014

• Role of the medical microbiologist in patient care
• Conventional methods of diagnostic testing in clinical microbiology
• In vitro antimicrobial testing and antimicrobial resistance
• Use of molecular methods to detect infectious agents and antimicrobial resistance
• Microbiology Laboratory testing as it relates to epidemiology and infection control

• (2012 - Present) Medical Microbiologist, Division Head, Clinical Pathology, NorthShore University HealthSystem
• (2009 - Present) Clinical Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
• (2003 - 2009) Professor, Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
• (1992 - 2003) Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
• (1991 - Present) Director, Microbiology Laboratories, NorthShore University HealthSystem
• (1998 - 2000) Director, Glenbrook Hospital Clinical Laboratories, NorthShore University HealthSystem
• (2000 - 2001) Director, Highland Park Clinical Laboratories, NorthShore University HealthSystem
• (2001 - Present) Director, Laboratory Support, NorthShore University HealthSystem
• (1982 - 1991) Medical Microbiologist, Director, Clinical Microbiology, Akron City Hospital (Summa Health System), Akron, Ohio
• (1982 - 1991) Director, Clinical Virology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Akron, Ohio
• (1989 - 1991) Associate Professor, Departments of Microbiology and Pathology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio
• (1987 - 1991) Consultant, Clinical Microbiology, Akron General Medical Center, Akron, Ohio
• (1984 - 1989) Assistant Professor, Departments of Microbiology and Pathology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio

• (2012) NorthShore University Health System Loyalty Leader Award: August
• (2008) Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Innovation Award (development and implementation of the nation’s first MRSA admissions screening program)
• (2007) Evanston Hospital Department of Medicine House staff Teaching Award (Recognition by house staff of faculty member outside the Department of Medicine)
• (Elected 2005) American Academy of Microbiology, Fellow
• (2002) Thomas Jefferson University - Distinguished alumnus (annual award to one alumnus per year)
• (1998) Evanston Northwestern Healthcare - Presidents Award
• (1996-97) Evanston Hospital Attending of the Year (Teaching award voted by house staff and presented to one of 600 clinical faculty each academic year)
• (1996-99) American Society for Microbiology, Foundation for Microbiology Lecturer
• (1994) Teaching Award, Department of Medicine, Evanston Hospital
• (1991) Teaching, Research and Service Recognition Award, Department of Medicine, Akron City Hospital

• Member, Microbiology Resource Committee, College of American Pathologists:  2014
• Member, Antimicrobial Resistance Working Group of the Office of Infectious Diseases, CDC Board of Scientific Counselors: 2012
• Dean, American College of Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology: 2011
• Board Member, Professional Practices Committee, American Society for Microbiology: 2011
• Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), Consensus Committee on Microbiology, Chairholder 2012
• Infectious Diseases Society of America Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee - Clinical Microbiology: 2012
• Committee on Appointments and Promotion (NorthShore/Univ. of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine): 2009-Present
• Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, Voting Member Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing:  2008 - 2012
• Illinois Laboratory Advisory Committee by appointment of the Illinois Attorney General: 2006
• Peer Reviewer - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sections of Diagnostic Microbiology and Antiinfectives:  2002
• Editorial Board - Journal of Clinical Microbiology: 1991-present
• Editorial Board - Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease: 1998-Present
• Editorial Board - Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice: 2004-Present
• American Academy of Microbiology Committee on Postdoctoral Educational Programs: 1988 - 2012; Chair 2004-2012
• Faculty, American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Review and Update of Pediatric Infectious Diseases: 2001-present
• Illinois Society for Microbiology (President 1999-2001)
• Infectious Disease Society of America
• American Society for Clinical Pathology
• Society of Sigma Xi

Publications in Peer-Review Journals: (Last 10 years)

1. Ridgeway J.P., L. R. Peterson, E. C. Brown, H. Du, C. Hebert, R. B. Thomson, K. L. Kaul, and A. Robicsek.  2013.  Clinical significance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization on hospital admission:  One-year risk. PLoS One.  8(11):e79716.
2. Baron, E.J., M. Miller, M. Weinstein, S. Richter, P. Gilligan, R. B. Thomson, P. Bourbeau, K. Carroll, S. Kehl, W. Michael Dunne, B. Robinson-Dunn, J. Schwartzman, K. Chapin, J. Snyder, B. Forbes, R. Patel, J. Rosenblatt and B. Pritt. 2013.  A guide to utilization of the microbiology laboratory for diagnosis in infectious diseases: 2013 recommendations by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).  Clin. Infect. Dis. 57:e22-e121.
3. Buchan, B., C. Ginocchio, R. Manii, R. Cavagnolo, P. Panchoi, L. Swyers, R. B. Thomson, C. Anderson, K. Kaul, and N. Ledeboer.  2013.  Multiplex identification of gram-positive bacteria and resistance determinants directly from positive blood culture broths: Evaluation of an automated microarray-based nucleic acid test.  PLoS Med. 10(7):e1001478.
4. Mangold, K. A., B. L. Voss, K. Singh, R. B. Thomson, D. M. Schora, and L. R. Peterson.  2013.  Multiple broad-spectrum beta-lactamase targets for comprehensive surveillance.  J. Clin. Microbiol. Aug 7 Epub ahead of print.
5. Schmitt, B. H., M. Regner, K. A. Mangold, R. B. Thomson, and K. L. Kaul.  2013.  PCR detection of clarithromycin-susceptible and resistant H. pylori from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded gastric biopsies.  Mod. Pathol. 26:1222-7.
6. Peterson, K.E., D.M. Hacek, A. Robicsek, and R.B. Thomson.  2012.  Reliability of electronic surveillance methods for MRSA clinical disease trend analysis.  Infect. Contr. Hosp. Epidemiol. 33:790-795.
7. Peterson, L.R., M.S. Mehta, P.A. Patel, D.M. Hacel, M. Harazin, P.P. Nagwekar, R.B. Thomson and A. Robicsek.  2011.  Laboratory testing for Clostridium difficile infection: light at the end of the tunnel.  Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 136:372-80.
8. Mangold, K.A., K. Santiano, R. Broekman, C.A. Krafft, B. Voss, V. Wang, D.M. Hacek, E.A. Usacheva, R.B. Thomson ,  K.L. Kaul and L.R. Peterson.  2011.  Real-time detection of blaKPC in clinical samples and surveillance specimens.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 49:3338-9.
9. Robicsek, A., J. L. Beaumont, M. O. Wright, R. B. Thomson, K. L. Kaul and L. R. Peterson.  2011.  Electronic prediction rules for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization.  Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol.  32:9-19.
10. Thomson R. B., M. Wilson and M. Weinstein.  2010.  The clinical microbiology laboratory director in the United States hospital setting.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 48:3465-3469.
11. Swenson, J. M., B. Wong, A. E. Simor, R. B. Thomson, M. J. Ferraro, D. J. Hardy, J. Hindler, J. Jorgensen, L. B. Reller, M. Traczewski, L. K. McDougal and J. B. Patel.  2010.  Multicenter study toi determine disk diffusion and broth microdilution criteria for prediction of high- and low-level resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 48:2469-75.
12. La Forgia C., J. Franke, D.M. Hacek, R.B.Thomson, A. Robicsek and L.R. Peterson.  2010.  Management of a multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak in an intensive care unit using novel environmental disinfection: A 38-month report.   Am. J. Infect. Control.  38:259-63.
13. Hacek D.M., S.M. Paule, R.B. Thomson, A. Robicsek, L.R. Peterson.  2009.  Implementation of a universal admission surveillance and decolonization program for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) reduces the number of MRSA and total number of S. aureus isolates reported by the clinical laboratory.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 47:3749-52.
14. Robicsek, A, J.L. Beaumont, R.B. Thomson, G. Govindarajan, L.R. Peterson.  2009.  Topical therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization: impact on infection risk.  Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol.  30:623-32.
15. Mehta, M.S., S.M. Paule, R.B. Thomson, K.L. Kaul and L.R. Peterson.  2008.  Identification of Staphylococcus species directly from positive blood culture broth by use of molecular and conventional methods.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 47:1082-86.
16. Mehta, M.S., S.M. Paule, D.M. Hacek, R.B. Thomson, K.L. Kaul and L.R. Peterson.  2008.  Optimization of a laboratory-developed test utilizing Roche analyte-specific reagents for detection of Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species.  J. Clin. Microbiol.  46:2377-2380.
17. Robicsek, A., J.L. Beaumont, S.M. Paule, D.M. Hacek, R.B. Thomson, P. King and L.R. Peterson.  2008.  Universal surveillance for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 3 affiliated hospitals.  Ann. Intern. Med. 148:409-418.
18. Robicsek, A., M. Suseno, J.L. Beaumont, R.B. Thomson and L.R. Peterson.  2008.  Prediction of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus involvement in disease sites by concomitant nasal sampling.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 46:588-592.
19. Peterson, L.R., R.U. Manson, S.M. Paule, D.M. Hacek, A. Robicsek, R.B. Thomson and K.L. Kaul.  2007.  Detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile in stool samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of C. difficile-associated diarrhea.  Clin. Infect. Dis. 45:1152-1160.
20. Paule, S.M. D.M. Hacek, B. Kufner, K. Truchon, R.B. Thomson, K.L. Kaul, A. Robicsek and L.R. Peterson.  2007. Performance of the BD GeneOhm methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus test before and during high-volume clinical use.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 45:2993-2998.
21. Wilson, A.L., M.W. Kaufman, R.B. Thomson and P.J. Gavin.  2007.  Fulminant fatal toxic shock syndrome with Staphylococcus aureus.  Am. J. Emerg. Med. 25:225-226.
22. Jilling, T., D. Simon, J. Lu, F. J. Meng, D. Li, R. Schy, R. B. Thomson, A. Soliman, M. Arditi and M. S. Caplan.  2006.  The roles of bacteria and toll-like receptor 4 in rat and murine models of necrotizing enterocolitis.  J. Immunol. 177:3273-82.
23. Gavin, P. J., M. T. Suseno, R. B. Thomson, J. M. Gaydos, C. L. Pierson, D. C. Halstead, J. Aslanzadeh, S. Brecher, C. Rotstein and L. R. Peterson.  2006.   Clinical correlation of the CLSI susceptibility breakpoint for piperacillin-tazobactam against ESBL-producing E. coli and Klebsiella species.  Antimicrob. Ag. Chemoth. 50:2244-2247.
24. Gerber, S.I., R.C. Jones, M.V. Scott, J.S. Price, M.S. Dworkin, M.B. Filippell, T. Rearick, S.L. Pur, J.B. McAuley, M.A. Lavin, S.F. Welbel, S. Garcia-Houchins, J.L. Bova, S.G. Weber, P.M. Arnow, J.A. Englund, P.J. Gavin, A.G. Fisher, R.B. Thomson, T. Vescio, T. Chou, D.C. Johnson, M.B. Fry, A.H. Molloy, L. Bardowski and G.A. Noskin.  2006.  Management of outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in the neonatal intensive care unit: a consensus statement.  Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 27:139-145.
25. Gavin, P.J., J.R. Bolden, L.R. Peterson and R.B. Thomson.  2006.  Does identification of an extended-spectrum B-lactamase-producing organism by the microbiology laboratory influence patient management?  Infect. Dis. Clin. Practice.  14:81-83.
26. Paule, S. M., A. C. Pasquariello, R. B. Thomson, K. L. Kaul and L. R. Peterson.  2005.  Real-time PCR can rapidly detect methicillin-susceptible and resistant S. aureus directly from positive blood culture bottles.  Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 124:404-7.
27. Plipat, N., G. Livni, H. Bertram and R. B. Thomson.  2005.  Unstable vancomycin heteroresistance is common among clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 43:2494-2496.
28. Gavin, P.J., R. B. Thomson, M.J. Fischer, T.M. Vescio, and P.N. Levett.  2005.  Detection of leptospiral DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction in a case of Weil’s syndrome. Infect. Dis. Clin. Practice. 13:1-3.
29. Skow A, K. A. Mangold, M. Tajuddin, A. Huntington, B. Fritz, R. B. Thomson and K. L. Kaul.  2005.  Species-level identification of Staphylococcal isolates by real-time PCR and melt curve analysis. J. Clin. Microbiol.  43:2876-2880.
30. Mangold, K.A., R. U. Manson, E. S. C. Koay, L. Stephens, M. A. Regner, R. B. Thomson, L. R. Peterson and K. L. Kaul.  2005.  Real-Time PCR for the Detection and Identification of Plasmodium spp.  J. Clin. Microbiol.  43:2435-2440.
31. Sharp, S. E., J. A. Warren and R. B. Thomson.  2005.  Cefoxitin disk diffusion screen for confirmation of oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates and utility in the clinical laboratory, Diag. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 51:69-71.
32. Paule, S.M., A.C. Pasquariello, D.M. Hacek, A.G. Fisher, R. B. Thomson, K.L. Kaul, and L.R. Peterson.  2004.  Direct detection of Staphylococcus aureus from adult and neonate nasal swab specimens using real-time polymerase chain reaction. J. Mol. Diagn. 6:191-196.

Invited Publications (Last 10 years):

1. Thomson, R. B., 2014.  Point-Counterpoint:  Centralized laboratories meet the needs of infectious disease specialists (Counterpoint position).  J. Clin. Microbiol. In press.
2. Thomson, R. B. and G. V. Doern.  2011.  What will the role of the clinical microbiology laboratory director be in 2015?  J. Clin. Microbiol. 49:S68-S71.
3. Murray, P.R. and R.B. Thomson.  2010.  Memorial-John A. Washington II, MD.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 48:4345-46.
4. Thomson, R.B., P.J. Gavin and L.R. Peterson.  Shiga toxin antigen detecton should not replace sorbitol MacConkey agar screening of stool specimens.  Letter to the Editor – Author’s reply.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 42:4416-17, 2004.
5. Gavin, P.J. and R. B. Thomson.  Diagnosis of enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection by detection of shiga toxins.  Clin. Microbiol. Newsl. 26:49-54, 2004.

Book Chapters (Last 10 years):

1. Chadwick, E.G. and R.B. Thomson.   Nocardia species.  In Long, et al. (Ed.), Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectous Diseases, 4^rd edition, Churchill Livingston, 2012.
2. Baron, E. J. and R. B. Thomson.  Specimen collection, transport and processing: bacteriology.  In J. Versalovic et al. (Ed). Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 10^th edition.  ASM Press, 2011.
3. Thomson, R.B. Aerobic Bacteriology. In Garcia (Ed.), Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, 3rd edition.  ASM Press, 2010.
4. Thomson, R.B.  Use of microbiology laboratory tests in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.  In Tan et al. (Ed.).  Expert Guide to Infectious Diseases, 2^nd edition.  ACP Press, 2008.
5. Chadwick, E.G. and R.B. Thomson.   Nocardia species.  In Long, et al. (Ed.), Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectous Diseases, 3^rd edition, Churchill Livingston, 2008.
6. Thomson, R.B.  Specimen collection, transport, and processing:  bacteriology.  In P.R. Murray et al. (Ed.).  Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 9^th edition.  ASM Press, 2007
7. Thomson , R.B.  Laboratory methods in basic virology.  In Forbes, et al. (Ed.)  Bailey and Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology, 12^th edition, Mosby Elsevier, 2007.
8. Thomson R.B.  Bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract. In: S.P. Borriello, et al. (Ed.)  Topley and Wilson’s Microbiology and Microbial Infections, 10^th edition, Bacteriology vol. 1, p. 606-621. London: Hodder Arnold Ltd, 2006.
9. Henry, M. and R. B. Thomson. Acridine organe stain.  In Isenberg (Ed.), Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, 2nd edition.  ASM Press, 2004.
10. York M.K. and R. B. Thomson. Body fluid cultures. In Isenberg (Ed.), Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, 2nd edition.  ASM Press, 2004.
11. Henry M., M.K. York and R. B. Thomson.  Catheter Tip Cultures.  In Isenberg (Ed.). Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, 2nd edition.  ASM Press, 2004.

Presentations (Last 5 years):

1. 21^st First Coast Infectious Disease/Clinical Microbiology Symposium, Jacksonville, Florida, February 14, 2014:  Lecture “Gram Stain Interpretations: Become Part of the Patient Care Team.”
2. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, San Antonio, Texas, January 11, 2014:  Lecture “Novel Use of Local Antibiogram Data to Construct an Empiric Antimicrobial Prescribing Guide.”
3. Illinois Society for Microbiology Pasteur Meeting, Rosemont, Illinois, November 12, 2013:  Lecture “Urine Cultures 2013: No Longer Going with the Flow, Time to Change Course Mid-Stream.”
4. Association of Public Health Laboratories, October 29, 2013:  Training Webinar “Improving the Gram Stain.”
5. American Association of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases Review “PrepID”, Chicago, IL, July 26, 2013:  Lecture: “Point-of-Care Diagnosis.”
6. American Association of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases Review “PrepID”, Chicago, IL, July 22, 2013:  Lectures: “Clinical Microbiology Review and Update.”
7. 87^th Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases and the 61^st Japanese Society of Chemotherapy Meeting, Yokohama, Japan, June 6, 2013:  Lecture:  “EUCAST v CLSI: Friend or Foe?”
8. South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology Michigan Spring Meeting, April 17, 2013: Lecture “Making the Most of Gram Stain Interpretations.”
9. Illinois Society for Microbiology Workshop, April 2, 2013:  All day lecture:  “ISM Workshop: The Gram Stain.”
10. Northeastern Ohio Association of Clinical Microbiologists, March 21, 2013: Lecture “The Gram Stain: One Powerful Tool!”
11. South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology Teleconference, February 19, 2013:  Teleconference “The Gram Stain: One Powerful Tool!”
12. Infectious Diseases Society of America IDWeek, October 19, 2012: “Interactive Case Presentation Head and Neck Infections.”
13. Southwest Association for Clinical Microbiology Fall Meeting, September 8, 2012:  Workshop “Making the most of Gram stain interpretation.”
14. Southwest Associatioin for Clinical Microbiology Fall Meeting, September 7, 2012:  Lecture “The Gram stain: Is it relevant anymore?”
15. Illinois Society for Microbiology Spring Meeting, April 17, 2012:  Lecture “The Gram stain: Should and can it be saved?”
16. South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology Indiana Spring Meeting, March 23, 2012:  Lecture “Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing:  What everyone needs to know and do for the most important test in microbiology.”
17. The Teleconference Network of Texas, February 1, 2012:  Teleconference “How to standardize and improve the Gram stain.”
18. American Society for Microbiology General Meeting Core Curriculum Presentation, May 22, 2011:  “Gram Stain Smear Interpretations that Improve Patient Care.”
19. New York City Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Annual Spring Meeting, March 18, 2011:  “Gram Stain Standardization and Interpretation: Lessons Learned.”
20. Southern California Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting, November 5, 2010:  “It’s Part of Our Culture: Effective Communication of Bacteriology Results.”
21. South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology Teleconference Series, Faculty, October 5, 2010: “Case Studies Emphasizing How Clinical Microbiology Can Benefit from the Electronic Medical Record.”
22. South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology – Indiana Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, October 4, 2010: “What Does the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory have to do with Antimicrobial Stewardship?”
23. Illinois Society for Microbiology Spring Meeting, Naperville, IL, April 21, 2010: “Changing MIC Breakpoints: Do Mechanisms Count?”
24. Colorado Association for Continuing Medical Laboratory Education, Grand Rounds in Clinical Laboratory Microbiology Teleconference Series, January 21, 2010: “The Influenza Virus: Understanding Novel H1N1 and Addressing Laboratory Challenges.”
25. West Virginia Clinical Microbiology Association 20^th Annual Meeting, Wheeling, WV, September 25, 2009: “Susceptibility Testing Challenges: Battling the Resistance Pandemic.”
26. American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science 77^th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, July 22, 2009: “MRSA MRSA Me - Things Ain’t What They Used to Be!” and “What is Your MIC IQ?”
27. American Academy of Pediatrics, A Comprehensive Review and Update of Pediatric Infectious Diseases - Faculty, July 13, 2009, Chicago, IL:  “Laboratory Medicine Bacteriology,” Laboratory Medicine Mycology and Parasitology” and “Laboratory Medicine Virology.”
28. Illinois Society for Microbiology Spring Meeting, Oakbrook, IL, February 27, 2009:  “Case Studies in Bacteriology.”

Abstracts Published/Presented (Last 5 years):

1. Smith, B. A., M. O. Wright, D. Schora, R. B. Thomson, L. R. Peterson and A. Robicsek.  The epidemiology of infectious complications after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSB) in a community hospital setting:  To screen or not to screen?  Abstr. IDWeek 2013.
2. Dusich, I. K., D. Schora, L. R. Peterson and R. B. Thomson.  Decreasing mupirocin susceptibility over 7 years in a hospital system using mupirocin for nasal decolonization of hospitalized patients with MRSA colonization and pre-surgical patients with S aureus colonization.  Abstr. 113^th Gen. Meet. Am. Soic. Microbiol. May, 2013.
3. Shibib, D., M. Regner, K. A. Mangold, Z. Smith, J. Goldstein, R. Thomson, and K. Kaul.  Detection of clarithromycin resistant H. pylori from CLO test fresh gastric biopsies by real-time PCR with melt curve analysis.  Abstr. 113^th Gen. Meet. Am. Soic. Microbiol. May, 2013.
4. Peterson, L. R., P. A. Patel, D. M. Hacek, K. A. Peterson, A. Grayes, and R. B. Thomson.  Confirmation of high specificity for the Roche LightCycler MRSA Advanced test when used in a large MRSA control program.  Abstr. European Congress. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. (ECCMID). April, 2013.
5. Taylor, T., K. Poselenzny, M. Regner, S. Das, K. Kaul, K. Mangold and R. Thomson. Comparison of two multiplex respiratory virus panels: the Idaho Technology FilmArray and GenMark Dx eSensor System.  Abstr. Assoc. Mol. Pathol.  October, 2012.
6. Das, S., C.J. Anderson, B. Miller, R. Thomson, L.R. Peterson and A. Robicsek.  Association of mupirocin resistance (mupA) gene and presence of antibiotic resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Abstr. Assoc. Mol. Pathol.  October, 2012.
7. Anderson, C.J., K. Kaul, B. Voss and R.Thomson. Evaluation of the Verigene gram-positive blood culture test (BC-GP). Abstr. 112^th Gen. Meet. Am. Soc. Microbiol.  June, 2012.
8. Dusich, I., C.J. Anderson and R.Thomson.  More rapid detection of Clostridium difficile infection using decentralizaed real time PCR testing. Abstr. 112^th Gen. Meet. Am. Soc. Microbiol.  June, 2012.
9. Thomson, R. B. and A. Grayes.  Retapamulin disk diffusion and MIC testing results for 195 S. aureus strains enriched with mupirocin high and low level resistant strains.  Abstr. 111th Gen. Meet. Am. Soc. Microbiol. May, 2011.
10. Schmitt, B., M. A. Regner, K. Mangold, S. Resnick, R. Thomson and K. Kaul.  PCR detection of clarithromycin sensitive and resistant Helicobacter pylori from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gastric biopsies.  Abstr. 111th Gen. Meet. Am. Soc. Microbiol. May, 2011 (selected for “best of the best” oral presentation).
11. Hacek, D., A. Robicsek, R. B. Thomson and L. R. Peterson.  Repeat EIA testing for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) diagnosis is not reliable.  Abstr. 5^th Decennical Internat. Conf. Health-Assoc. Infect.  March, 2010.
12. Patel, P. A., P. P. Nagwekar, M. A. Harazin, D. M. Hacek, R. B. Thomson and L. R. Peterson.  Comparison of enzyme immunoassay (EIA), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and cytotoxin assays to toxigenic culture for the  detection of Clostridium difficile in stool samples.  Abstr. 5^th Decennical Internat. Conf. Health-Assoc. Infect.  March, 2010.
13. Hacek, D. M., A. Robicsek, R. B. Thomson and L. R. Peterson.  A myth of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) diagnosis:  The illusion of repeat EIA testing reliability.  Abstr. 49^th ICAAC. September, 2009.
14. Paule, S. M., A. Robicsek, R. Thomson, K. Kaul and L. R. Peterson.  Three years of universal surveillance and decolonization:  The affect on mupirocin resistance.  Abstr. 49^th ICAAC. September, 2009.
15. Paule, S. M., A. Robicsek, R. Thomson, K. Kaul and L. R. Peterson.  The prevalence of PVL in methicillin –susceptible and resistant S. aureus identified through nasal surveillance.  Abstr. 49^th ICAAC. September, 2009.
16. Bovee, M. C., A. Robicsek, B. Kufner, R. B. Thomson and L. R. Peterson.  Rise in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli at three suburban Chicago hospitals.  Abstr. 49^th ICAAC. September, 2009.
17. Robicsek, A., J. Beaumont, D. Hacek, S. Paule, R. B. Thomson and L. R. Peterson.  Does mupirocin therapy prevent disease in MRSA-colonized hospital inpatients?  Abstr. 49^th ICAAC. September, 2009.
18. Robicsek, A., S. M. Paule, D. Hacek, T. M. Gonzales, R. B. Thomson and L. R. Peterson.  How long after colonization does MRSA disease occur?  Abstr. 49^th ICAAC. September, 2009.
19. Robicsek, A., D. Hacek, S. Paule, K. Kaul, R. B. Thomson and L. R. Peterson.  Use of universal admission surveillance for MRSA to model alternative active surveillance strategies and test methods.  Abstr. 49^th ICAAC. September, 2009.
20. Turner, G. P., I. Dusich and R. B. Thomson.  Comparative cost of antimicrobial susceptibility testing using BIOMIC disk diffusion vs. the BD Phoenix AP automated microbiology systems.  Abstr. 109^th Gen. Meet. Am. Soc. Microbiol.  May, 2009.
21. Patel, P. A., E. F. Yen, d. M. Hacek, R. B. Thomson and L. R. Peterson.  Detection of false-positive Clostridium difficile enzyme immunoassay (EIA) testing from colonoscopy samples by an automated surveillance system improves practice.  Abstr. 109^th Gen. Meet. Am. Soc. Microbiol.  May, 2009. 
22. Yen, E., R. Thomson, K. Appert, K. Ilag, L. Peterson and A. Robicsek.  False-positive findings of a Clostridium difficile enzyme immunoassay on aspirates obtained during colonoscopy.  Abstr. Dig. Dis Wk.  May, 2009.