Drexel University College of Medicine

Administrative Contacts:

Infectious Diseases Office:
245 N 15th Street MS 461
New College Building 6314
tel: 215-762-6555
fax: 215-762-3031

HIV Office:
1427 Vine Street MS 959
tel: 215-762-8142
fax: 215-246-5841

What's New

Dr. Jeffrey Jacobson, M.D., chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine and professor of medicine, microbiology and immunology, presented "Phase 2a Study of PRO 140 in HIV-Infected Adults" at the 49th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in San Francisco, CA, on September 14, 2009.

Erika Aaron, MSN CRNP, and Shannon Criniti, MPH, authored an online module for the International AIDS Society-USA's Cases on the Web (COW), entitled "Pregnancy Planning and Preconception Health Care for HIV-Infected Individuals and Couples." Physicians can obtain 1 CME credit for completing the module and post-test online.

We are excited to  welcome new attending physician Dong Lee, M.D., a 2009 graduate of the Drexel University College of Medicine Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program. Dr. Lee is currently seeing patients at the Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice.

We now have Travel Health appointments on Thursday mornings from 9-11a.m. on the fifth floor of 219 N. Broad St. This session is in addition to our regular weekly travel health clinic on Tuesday evenings from 5-7p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call 215-762-6655 approximately four weeks before your travel departure date.

• Jacobson JM, Saag MS, Thompson MA, et al. Antiviral activity of single-dose PRO 140, a CCR5 monoclonal antibody, in HIV-infected adults.J Infect Dis. 2008 Nov 1;198(9):1345-52.
• Jacobson JM,Kuritzkes DR, Godofsky E, et al. Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Antiretroviral Activity of Multiple Doses of Ibalizumab (formerly TNX-355), an Anti-CD4 Monoclonal Antibody, in HIV-1 Infected Adults. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2008. (in press)
• Kutzler M, Jacobson JM. Treatment interruption as a tool to measure changes in immunologic response to HIV-1. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2008;3:131-5.
• Schlecht HP, Schellhorn S, Dezube BJ, Jacobson JM. New approaches in the treatment of HIV/AIDS –focus on maraviroc and other CCR5 inhibitors. Ther Clin Risk Management. 2008 Apr;4(2):473-85.
• Aaron E, Criniti S. Screening for depression in pregnant women with HIV infection. J Reprod Med. 2008 May;53(5):352-6.
• Lee DH, Palermo B, Chowdhury MH. Successful Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Meningitis with Daptomycin. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2008 Aug; 47(4):588–590.

• Mashiul Chowdhury, MD, and Paola Solari, MD. “Endocarditis of Natural and Prosthetic Valves; Treatment and Prophylaxis” in Clinical Infectious Disease. David Schlossberg (Ed.) New York: Cambridge University Press. 2008
• Brandon Palermo, MD, MPHand Thomas Fekete, MD. “Epididymo-Orchitis,” in Clinical Infectious Disease. David Schlossberg (Ed.) New York: Cambridge University Press. 2008

• International AIDS conference (Aug 2008, Mexico City) “Comparison of renal function in a cohort of patients on tenofovir (TDF) versus non-tenofovir containing regimens” poster by Paola Solari, MD, with co-investigators.

• Infectious Diseases Society of American conference (Oct 2008): "Microbiological Aspects of Early versus Late Onset Cardiac Device Infection (CDI)" poster by D. Lee, MD; G. Yesenoky, MD; S. Kutalek, MD; A. Dhond, MD; M. Chowdhury, MD; and "Trichosporon beigelii cardiac device infection" poster by D. Lee, MD; B. Palermo, MD; M. Chowdhury, MD.

• American Public Health Association conference, San Diego, CA (Oct 26-30): "Factors associated with delayed entry into primary HIV medical care after HIV diagnosis" (poster) by co-author Laura Bamford, MD, (with external co-authors); "Achieving universal HIV screening: Following CDC recommendations in states with incompatible laws"(poster) by authors Erika Aaron, MSN CRNP; Shannon M. Criniti, MPH; Amy Hilley, MPH; Brenda Martino; Anita Vargas; and Joanna Bell, MD; "Lessons learned from a community-based HIV testing partnership: The Minority Community Health HIV/AIDS Demonstration Partnership" (oral presentation) authors Shannon M. Criniti, MPH (with community co-authors); "Providing in-home HIV testing for pregnant women and their families: Challenges and benefits" (oral presentation) authors Shannon M. Criniti, MPH; Marjie Mogul, PhD (community co-author), Erika Aaron, CRNP; Amy Hilley, MPH; and Brenda Martino.

• Pennsylvania Public Health Association annual meeting Philadelphia, November 17-19 – three oral presentations and one panel presentation: Authors include Joanna Bell, MD; Shannon Criniti, MPH; Erika Aaron, MSN CRNP; Amy Hilley, MPH; Brenda Martino; Anita Vargas. Titles: 1) "Is routine HIV screening in Pennsylvania compatible with Act 148?" 2) "Providing rapid HIV testing in the homes of pregnant women and their families: challenges and successes;" 3) panel presentation "Emergency Department HIV Screening Programs in Philadelphia: Exploring Different Public Health Models;" 4) “Community-based Participatory Research: The HIV Minority Community Health Partnership.“

• Ryan White Annual Conference, August 25-27, 2008: Implementation of routine rapid testing in medical settings throughout a hospital-wide system by Erika Aaron, MSN, CRNP; Shannon Criniti, MPH; Amy Hilley, MPH; Joanna D. Bell, MD; Changing Mortality Trends in an urban HIV clinic by Sara Allen, MSN, CRNP; Kadodjomon Yeo, MPH; et al; Medication adherence and prenatal health by Holly Brooker; Kenneth George, PharmD; Deborah White, MSW; Sonia Massey, MSW; Karen Coleman, MSW; Jeffrey M. Jacobson, MD.

And, just to prove we are not all about medicine, Dr. Chowdhury presented a solo month-long original art exhibit called “Hidden Canvas: Impressions of Urban Life” at the Gould Gallery in Ardmore, Pa., in September 2008, and was September’s featured artist in Siliconeer Magazine.

About Our Division

The prevention and control of infectious diseases is a critical component for protecting the health of any community. The global economy, international travel, and migration all contribute to the potential for infectious diseases to spread to new populations. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control reports that 160,000 Americans die each year with an infectious disease as the underlying cause of death, and infectious illnesses account for 25 percent of all physician visits each year. In addition, there are currently an estimated one million individuals in the U.S. with HIV, with 40,000 more people being infected every year.

The Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine comprises several clinical and research programs which provide both treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, including HIV. Under the direction of Division Chief Jeffrey M. Jacobson, M.D., the division is expanding the translational research program, and investigating cutting-edge technologies and therapeutic treatments for the management and prevention of HIV and other infectious diseases. The infectious disease specialists in this division work closely with Drexel Medicine’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology in researching new treatments and vaccines for HIV and other infectious diseases. The division also collaborates with the School of Public Health on programs to educate our patients and the public about disease prevention and management.

Clinical Practice - Infectious Diseases

Infection control is one important part of our infectious disease work. Infection control refers to the policies, procedures, and activities which intend to prevent or reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases. Protecting patients in healthcare environments, such as hospitals, from contracting infections is an integral part of the work of Drexel University College of Medicine physicians, as more than 100,000 deaths in the U.S. each year are caused by healthcare-acquired infections.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a large component of infection prevention and control as well. According to CDC estimates, 19 million new STIs occur each year – half of them among young people ages 15 to 24. If untreated, STIs can lead to serious consequences in men and women, including infertility. In addition, individuals with STIs are at more likely to acquire HIV if they are exposed to the virus through sexual contact.

The division’s Travel Health Clinic, one of the region’s only official yellow fever vaccination sites, provides immunizations, antibiotics, and personalized health advice to travelers from the university and throughout the city.

The division’s infectious disease specialists provide daily consultations to Hahnemann University Hospital, a 636-bed acute care teaching hospital which is part of Tenet Health System. They also provide clinical consultations to other medical practices in the community. The division’s physicians serve as faculty for the program’s Infectious Disease Fellowship Program.

Clinical Practice - HIV Medicine

The division's HIV clinical site, the Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice (the Partnership), is the largest adult HIV care center in the region, serving more than 1,400 men and women. Founded in 1993, the Partnership's mission is "to enhance the quality of life for persons with HIV/AIDS by providing comprehensive, integrated HIV care to all individuals regardless of their ability to pay." The Partnership provides one-stop shopping for its patients, including primary and specialty HIV medical care, gynecological care, prenatal care, nutrition assessment, case management, pharmacy services, phlebotomy and laboratory services, psychiatric and behavioral health services, substance abuse treatment, HIV support groups, health educational programs, and rapid HIV testing.

The Partnership also has two satellite practices: one at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children (SCHC) and one at Kensington Hospital. Our HIV specialists are skilled at managing HIV throughout the life cycle, as well as patients’ co-morbidities, such as diabetes and hepatitis C. Experts in the Partnership's prenatal clinic work with HIV-infected women to prevent mother-to-child transmission, with a 0 percent transmission rate to date. The division's rapid HIV testing programs have screened more than 2,500 patients for HIV.