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Research Institute

Richard B.Thomson, PhD, D (ABMM)

Richard B.Thomson, PhD

Department of Pathology
Director, Clinical Microbiology Laboratories
Chair, NorthShore University HealthSystem Community Acquired Pneumonia Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee

Education

  • Graduate: MS, Clinical Microbiology, Thomas Jefferson University
  • Postgraduate: PhD, Microbiology/Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University
  • Fellowship: Clinical Microbiology and Public Health, Mayo Clinic

Research Interests

  • In vitro antimicrobial testing
  • Mechanisms of anitmicrobial resistance
  • Molecular diagnostics in medical microbiology
  • Epidemiology and nosocomial infections

Honors and Awards

  • Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology - Elected: 2005
  • Thomas Jefferson University - Distinguished alumnus: 2002
  • NorthShore University HealthSystem - Presidents Award: 1998
  • Attending of the year, Evanston Hospital: 1996-97
  • American Society for Microbiology, Foundation for Microbiology Lecturer: 1996-99
  • Teaching Award, Department of Medicine, Evanston Hospital: 1994
  • Teaching, Research and Service Recognition Award, Department of Medicine, Akron City Hospital: 1991

Professional Memberships/Affiliations/Activities

  • Illinois Laboratory Advisory Committee by appointment of the Illinois Attorney General : 2006-present
  • Diplomate, American Board of Medical Microbiology - (Certificate No. 795)
  • Peer Reviewer - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sections of Diagnostic  Microbiology and Antiinfectives: June, 2002
  • Editorial Board - Journal of Clinical Microbiology: 1991-2002
  • Editorial Board - Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease: 1998-Present
  • Editorial Board - Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice: 2004-Present
  • Editor- Microbiology Frontline, Excerpta Medica, Inc.: 2001-Present
  • American College of Microbiology, Board Member: 2000-Present
  • American Academy of Microbiology Committee on Postdoctoral Educational Programs: 1988 - 1994; 2004-Present (Chair 2004-2006)
  • Faculty, American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Review and Update of Pediatric Infectious Diseases: 2001, 2003
  • Faculty, Osler Institute - Pathology Review Course: 1990-Present
  • Faculty, The National Center for Advanced Medical Education: 1995
  • American Society for Microbiology (Candidate for Chair, Clinical Microbiology Division C, 1997and 1999; Candidate for Councilor at Large, 1997)
  • Illinois Society for Microbiology (President 1999-2001)
  • Infectious Disease Society of America
  • American Society for Clinical Pathology
  • Society of Sigma Xi
  • Medical Mycological Society of the Americas
  • South Central Association of Clinical Microbiology: 1985 - present
  • Northeastern Ohio Clinical Microbiology Group (President 1985-1986)

Scholarly Work

Publications in Peer-Review Journals:

  1. 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.  Clinical correlation of the CLSI susceptibility breakpoint for piperacillin-tazobactam against ESBL-producing E. coli and Klebsiella species. Antimicrob. Ag. Chemoth. 50:2244-2247, 2006.
  2. Paule, S.M., A.C. Pasquariello, R.B. Thomson, K.L. Kaul and L.R. Peterson.  Real-time PCR can rapidly detect methicillin-susceptible and resistant S. auresu directly from positive blood culture bottles.  Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 124:404-7, 2005.
  3. Plipat, N., G. Livni, H. Bertram and R.B. Thomson.  Unstable vancomycin heteroresistance is common among clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 43:2494-2496, 2005.
  4. Gavin, P.J., R.B. Thomson, M.J. Fischer, T.M. Vescio, and P.N. Levett.  Detection of leptospiral DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction in a case of Weil's syndrome.  Infect. Dis. Clin. Practice 13:1-3, 2005.
  5. Skow, A., K.A. Mangold, M. Tajuddin, A. Huntington, B. Fritz, R.B. Thomson and K.L. Kaul.  Species Determination of Staphylococcal isolates using Real Time PCR and Melt Curve Analysis.  J. Clin. Microbiol., 43:2876-2880, 2005.
  6. 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.  Real-Time PCR for the Detection and Identification of Plasmodium spp.  J. Clin. Microbiol. 43:2435-2440, 2005.
  7. Thomson, R.B.  Bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract.  In Borriello and Murray (Ed.), Topley and Wilson's Microbiology and Microbial Infections, 10th edition.  Edward Arnold Publishers Limited, London, 2005.
  8. Thomson, R.B. and J.M. Miller.  Specimen collection, transport and processing: bacteriology.  In P.R. Murray et al. (Ed.), Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 8th edition.  American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC, 2003.
  9. Gavin, P.J., R.B. Thomson, M.J. Fischer, T.M. Vescio, and P.N. Levett.  Detection of leptospiral DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction in a case of Weil's syndrome. Infectious Disease Clinical Practice, 13:1-3, 2005.
  10. Paule, S.M., A.C. Pasquariello, D.M. Hacek, A.G. Fisher, R.B. Thomson, K.L. Kaul, and L.R. Peterson. Direct detection of Staphylococcus aureus from adult and neonate nasal swab specimens using real-time polymerase chain reaction. J. Mol. Diagn. 6:191-196, 2004.
  11. Gavin, P.J., L.R. Peterson, A.C. Pasquariello, J. Blackburn, Mark G. Hamming, K.J. Kuo and R. B. Thomson.  Evaluation of the Prospect Shiga toxin E. coli microplate Assay for detection of Shiga-toxins in stool.  J. Clin. Microbiol., 42:1652-1656, 2004.
  12. Gavin, P.J., M.T. Suseno, F.V. Cook, L.R. Peterson and R.B. Thomson.  Left-sided endocarditis caused by P. aeruginosa: Successful treatment with Meropeem and Tobramycin.  Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis., 47:427-430, 2003.
  13. Gavin, P.J., R.B. Thomson, Show-Jen Horng and R. Yogev. Neonatal sepsis caused by Streptococcus bovis variant (S. bovis biotype II/2): report of a case and review.  J. Clin. Microbiol., 41:3433-3435, 2003.
  14. Singh, K., P.J. Gavin, T. Vescio, R.B. Thomson, R.B. Deddish, A. Fisher, G.A. Noskin and L.R. Peterson. Microbiologic surveillance using nasal cultures alone is sufficient for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in neonates. J. Clin. Microbiol., 41:2755-2757, 2003.
  15. Haukness, H.A., R.R. Tanz, R.B. Thomson, D.K. Pierry, E.L. Kaplan, B. Beall, D. Johnson, N.P. Hoe, J.M. Musser and S.T. Shulman. The heterogeneity of endemic community pediatric group A streptococcal pharyngeal isolates and their relationship to invasive isolates. J. Infect. Dis. 185:915-20, 2002.
  16. Thomson, R.B.  Laboratory methods in basic virology. In B.A. Forbes, et.al. (Ed.), Baily and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology, 11th edition. C.V. Mosby, Co., St. Louis, 2002.
  17. Thomson, R. B.  Use of microbiology laboratory tests in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. In J.S. Tan (Ed.), Expert Guide to Infectious Diseases. American College of Physicians, Phila., Pa., 2002.
  18. Thomson, R.B. and H. Bertram. Laboratory diagnosis of central nervous system infections. In F.R. Cockerill (Ed.), Infectious Disease Clinics of North America; The Role of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory In the Diagnosis and Therapy of Infectious Disease. W.B. Saunders, Co. Philadelphia, 15:1047-1071, 2001.
  19. Peterson, L, J. Hamilton, E. Baron, L. Tompkins, J.M. Miller, C. Wilfert, F. Tenover and R.B. Thomson. Role of clinical microbiology laboratories in the management and control of infectious diseases and the delivery of health care. Clin. Inf. Dis. 32:605-11.2001.