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Michael A. Rubin

Michael A. Rubin, MD, PhD, MS

Languages spoken: English
  • Dr. Rubin has clinical expertise in infectious diseases and hospital epidemiology, with a specific focus on preventable infections acquired from interactions with the health care setting. In particular, he is interested in infections caused by organisms resistant to multiple antibiotics (or, "multidrug-resistant organisms"), such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile. Although he specializes in the treatment of these types of infections, he also provides expertise in preventing these infections through the promotion of various infection control measures, such as strict adherence to handwashing, early removal of invasive devices, consistent use of contact isolation practices, and appropriate use of antibiotics.

  • Dr. Rubin has clinical expertise in infectious diseases and hospital epidemiology, with a specific focus on preventable infections acquired from interactions with the health care setting. In particular, he is interested in infections caused by organisms resistant to multiple antibiotics (or, "multidrug-resistant organisms"), such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile. Although he specializes in the treatment of these types of infections, he also provides expertise in preventing these infections through the promotion of various infection control measures, such as strict adherence to handwashing, early removal of invasive devices, consistent use of contact isolation practices, and appropriate use of antibiotics.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Internal Medicine -Primary
    Academic Divisions Epidemiology

    Education history

    Other Training Clinical Investigation - University of Utah, K30 Training Program
    Residency Internal Medicine - University of Utah School of Medicine Resident
    Internal Medicine - University of Utah School of Medicine Intern
    Doctoral Training Immunology - University of Illinois - Chicago Ph.D.
    Medicine - University of Illinois at Chicago M.D.
    Undergraduate Cell Biology - Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences B.A.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Evans ME, Simbartl LA, McCauley BP, Flarida LK, Jones MM, Harris AD, Perencevich EN, Rubin MA, Hicks NR, Kralovic SM, Roselle GA (2023). Active Surveillance and Contact Precautions for Preventing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Healthcare-Associated Infections During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Clin Infect Dis, 77(10), 1381-1386. (Read full article)
    2. Parmasad V, Keating J, McKinley L, Evans C, Rubin M, Voils C, Safdar N (2023). Frontline perspectives of C. difficile infection prevention practice implementation within veterans affairs health care facilities: A qualitative study. Am J Infect Control, 51(10), 1124-1131. (Read full article)
    3. Suzuki H, Perencevich EN, Hockett Sherlock S, Clore GS, OShea AMJ, Forrest GN, Pfeiffer CD, Safdar N, Crnich C, Gupta K, Strymish J, Lira GB, Bradley S, Cadena-Zuluaga J, Rubin M, Bittner M, Morgan D, DeVries A, Miell K, Alexander B, Schweizer ML (2023). Implementation of a Prevention Bundle to Decrease Rates of Staphylococcus aureus Surgical Site Infection at 11 Veterans Affairs Hospitals. JAMA Netw Open, 6(7), e2324516. (Read full article)
    4. Goedken CC, Butler JM, Judd J, Brown N, Rubin M, Goetz MB (2023). Antimicrobial physician and pharmacist experience and perception of an antimicrobial Self-Stewardship Time-Out Program (SSTOP) intervention at eight Veterans' Affairs medical centers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1-4. (Read full article)
    5. Jagsi R, Beeland TD, Sia K, Szczygiel LA, Allen MR, Arora VM, Bair-Merritt M, Bauman MD, Bogner HR, Daumit G, Davis E, Fagerlin A, Ford DE, Gbadegesin R, Griendling K, Hartmann K, Hedayati SS, Jackson RD, Matulevicius S, Mugavero MJ, Nehl EJ, Neogi T, Regensteiner JG, Rubin MA, Rubio D, Singer K, Tucker Edmonds B, Volerman A, Laney S, Patton C, Escobar Alvarez S (2022). Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists: innovating support for early-career family caregivers. J Clin Invest, 132(23). (Read full article)
    6. Fitzpatrick MA, Suda KJ, Ramanathan S, Wilson G, Poggensee L, Evans M, Jones MM, Pfeiffer CD, Klutts JS, Perencevich E, Rubin M, Evans CT, QUERI CARRIAGE Program (2022). Increased carbapenemase testing following implementation of national VA guidelines for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol, 2(1), e88. (Read full article)
    7. McKinley L, Goedken CC, Balkenende E, Clore G, Hockett SS, Bartel R, Bradley S, Judd J, Lyons G, Rock C, Rubin M, Shaughnessy C, Reisinger HS, Perencevich E, Safdar N (2022). Evaluation of daily environmental cleaning and disinfection practices in veterans affairs acute and long-term care facilities: A mixed methods study. Am J Infect Control. (Read full article)
    8. Vivo A, Fitzpatrick MA, Suda KJ, Jones MM, Perencevich EN, Rubin MA, Ramanathan S, Wilson GM, Evans ME, Evans CT (2022). Epidemiology and outcomes associated with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Infect Dis, 22(1), 491. (Read full article)
    9. Wilson GM, Suda KJ, Fitzpatrick MA, Bartle B, Pfeiffer CD, Jones M, Rubin MA, Perencevich E, Evans M, Evans CT, QUERI CARRIAGE Program (2021). Risk Factors Associated With Carbapenemase-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Positive Cultures in a Cohort of US Veterans. Clin Infect Dis, 73(8), 1370-1378. (Read full article)
    10. Rubin MA (2021). Was In-Person Attendance at Major College and Professional Football Games in 2020 the Right Call? JAMA Netw Open, 4(8), e2119580. (Read full article)
    11. Goedken CC, Guihan M, Brown CR, Ramanathan S, Vivo A, Suda KJ, Fitzpatrick MA, Poggensee L, Perencevich EN, Rubin M, Reisinger HS, Evans M, Evans CT (2021). Evaluation of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) guideline implementation in the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers using the consolidated framework for implementation research. Implement Sci Commun, 2(1), 69. (Read full article)
    12. Dieringer TD, Furukawa D, Graber CJ, Stevens VW, Jones MM, Rubin MA, Goetz MB (2020). Inpatient antibiotic utilization in the Veterans' Health Administration during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 42(6), 751-753. (Read full article)
    13. Derington CG, Cohen JB, Mohanty AF, Greene TH, Cook J, Ying J, Wei G, Herrick JS, Stevens VW, Jones BE, Wang L, Zheutlin AR, South AM, Hanff TC, Smith SM, Cooper-DeHoff RM, King JB, Alexander GC, Berlowitz DR, Ahmad FS, Penrod MJ, Hess R, Conroy MB, Fang JC, Rubin MA, Beddhu S, Cheung AK, Xian W, Weintraub WS, Bress AP (2021). Angiotensin II receptor blocker or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use and COVID-19-related outcomes among US Veterans. PLoS One, 16(4), e0248080. (Read full article)
    14. Khader K, Thomas A, Stevens V, Visnovsky L, Nevers M, Toth D, Keegan LT, Jones M, Rubin M, Samore MH (2021). Association Between Contact Precautions and Transmission of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Veterans Affairs Hospitals. JAMA Netw Open, 4(3), e210971. (Read full article)
    15. Nelson RE, Goto M, Samore MH, Jones M, Stevens VW, Evans ME, Schweizer ML, Perencevich EN, Rubin MA (2020). Expanding an Economic Evaluation of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Prevention Initiative to Include Prevention of Infections From Other Pathogens. Clin Infect Dis, 72(Suppl 1), S50-S58. (Read full article)
    16. Slayton RB, OHagan JJ, Barnes S, Rhea S, Hilscher R, Rubin M, Lofgren E, Singh B, Segre A, Paul P (2020). Modeling Infectious Diseases in Healthcare Network (MInD-Healthcare) Framework for Describing and Reporting Multidrug-resistant Organism and Healthcare-Associated Infections Agent-based Modeling Methods. Clin Infect Dis, 71(9), 2527-2532. (Read full article)
    17. Ramanathan S, Suda KJ, Fitzpatrick MA, Guihan M, Goedken CC, Safdar N, Evans M, Jones M, Pfeiffer CD, Perencevich EN, Rubin M, Evans CT, QUERI CARRIAGE Program (2020). A survey of infection control strategies for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Department of Veterans' Affairs facilities. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 43, 1-4. (Read full article)
    18. Stevens VW, Khader K, Echevarria K, Nelson RE, Zhang Y, Jones M, Timbrook TT, Samore MH, Rubin MA (2019). Use of Oral Vancomycin for Clostridioides difficile Infection and the Risk of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci. Clin Infect Dis, 71(3), 645-651. (Read full article)
    19. Stevens VW, Shoemaker HE, Jones MM, Jones BE, Nelson RE, Khader K, Samore MH, Rubin MA (2020). Validation of the SHEA/IDSA severity criteria to predict poor outcomes among inpatients and outpatients with Clostridioides difficile infection. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 41(5), 510-516. (Read full article)
    20. Vaughn VM, Seelye SM, Wang XQ, Wiitala WL, Rubin MA, Prescott HC (2020). Inpatient and Discharge Fluoroquinolone Prescribing in Veterans Affairs Hospitals Between 2014 and 2017. Open Forum Infect Dis, 7(5), ofaa149. (Read full article)
    21. Vander Weg MW, Perencevich EN, OShea AMJ, Jones MP, Vaughan Sarrazin MS, Franciscus CL, Goedken CC, Baracco GJ, Bradley SF, Cadena J, Forrest GN, Gupta K, Morgan DJ, Rubin MA, Thurn J, Bittner MJ, Reisinger HS (2019). Effect of Frequency of Changing Point-of-Use Reminder Signs on Health Care Worker Hand Hygiene Adherence: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open, 2(10), e1913823. (Read full article)
    22. Brent C, Dunn A, Savage H, Faraji A, Rubin M, Risk I, Garcia W, Cortese M, Novosad S, Krow-Lucal ER, Crain J, Hill M, Atkinson A, Peterson D, Christensen K, Dimond M, Staples JE, Nakashima A (2016). Preliminary Findings from an Investigation of Zika Virus Infection in a Patient with No Known Risk Factors - Utah, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 65(36), 981-2. (Read full article)
    23. Jones M, Huttner B, Leecaster M, Huttner A, Damal K, Tanner W, Nielson C, Rubin MA, Goetz MB, Madaras-Kelly K, Samore MH (2014). Does universal active MRSA surveillance influence anti-MRSA antibiotic use? A retrospective analysis of the treatment of patients admitted with suspicion of infection at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers between 2005 and 2010. J Antimicrob Chemother, 69(12), 3401-8. (Read full article)
    24. Fridkin S, Baggs J, Fagan R, Magill S, Pollack LA, Malpiedi P, Slayton R, Khader K, Rubin MA, Jones M, Samore MH, Dumyati G, Dodds-Ashley E, Meek J, Yousey-Hindes K, Jernigan J, Shehab N, Herrera R, McDonald CL, Schneider A, Srinivasan A (2014). Vital signs: improving antibiotic use among hospitalized patients. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 63(9), 194-200. (Read full article)
    25. Jones M, Ying J, Huttner B, Evans M, Maw M, Nielson C, Rubin MA, Greene T, Samore MH (2014). Relationships between the importation, transmission, and nosocomial infections of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an observational study of 112 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Clin Infect Dis, 58(1), 32-9. (Read full article)
    26. Rubin MA, Jones M, Leecaster M, Khader K, Ray W, Huttner A, Huttner B, Toth D, Sablay T, Borotkanics RJ, Gerding DN, Samore MH (2013). A simulation-based assessment of strategies to control Clostridium difficile transmission and infection. PLoS One, 8(11), e80671. (Read full article)
    27. Huttner B, Jones M, Huttner A, Rubin M, Samore MH (2013). Antibiotic prescription practices for pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections and urinary tract infections throughout the US Veterans Affairs system. J Antimicrob Chemother, 68(10), 2393-9. (Read full article)
    28. de Perio MA, Brueck SE, Mueller CA, Milne CK, Rubin MA, Gundlapalli AV, Mayer J (2012). Evaluation of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) exposures and illness among physicians in training. Am J Infect Control, 40(7), 617-21. (Read full article)
    29. Mayer J, Greene T, Howell J, Ying J, Rubin MA, Trick WE, Samore MH, CDC Prevention Epicenters Program (2012). Agreement in classifying bloodstream infections among multiple reviewers conducting surveillance. Clin Infect Dis, 55(3), 364-70. (Read full article)
    30. Jones M, DuVall SL, Spuhl J, Samore MH, Nielson C, Rubin M (2012). Identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus within the nation's Veterans Affairs medical centers using natural language processing. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak, 12, 34. (Read full article)
    31. Jones M, Samore MH, Carter M, Rubin MA (2012). Long-term care facilities in Utah: a description of human and information technology resources applied to infection control practice. Am J Infect Control, 40(5), 446-50. (Read full article)
    32. Huttner B, Jones M, Rubin MA, Madaras-Kelly K, Nielson C, Goetz MB, Neuhauser MM, Samore MH (2012). Double trouble: how big a problem is redundant anaerobic antibiotic coverage in Veterans Affairs medical centres? J Antimicrob Chemother, 67(6), 1537-9. (Read full article)
    33. Jones MM, DuVall SL, Spuhl J, Samore MH, Nielson C, Rubin MA (2012). Identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus within the Nation's Veterans Affairs Medical Centers using natural language processing. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak, 12, 34.
    34. Jones M, Huttner B, Madaras-Kelly K, Nechodom K, Nielson C, Bidwell Goetz M, Neuhauser MM, Samore MH, Rubin MA (2012). Parenteral to oral conversion of fluoroquinolones: low-hanging fruit for antimicrobial stewardship programs? Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 33(4), 362-7. (Read full article)
    35. Huttner B, Jones M, Rubin MA, Neuhauser MM, Gundlapalli A, Samore M (2012). Drugs of last resort? The use of polymyxins and tigecycline at US Veterans Affairs medical centers, 2005-2010. PLoS One, 7(5), e36649. (Read full article)
    36. Mayer J, Mooney B, Gundlapalli A, Harbarth S, Stoddard GJ, Rubin MA, Eutropius L, Brinton B, Samore MH (2010). Dissemination and sustainability of a hospital-wide hand hygiene program emphasizing positive reinforcement. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 32(1), 59-66. (Read full article)
    37. Nelson RE, Samore MH, Smith KJ, Harbarth S, Rubin MA (2010). Cost-effectiveness of adding decolonization to a surveillance strategy of screening and isolation for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers. Clin Microbiol Infect, 16(12), 1740-6. (Read full article)
    38. Nelson RE, Samore MH, Smith KJ, Harbarth S, Rubin MA (2010). Cost-effectiveness of adding decolonization to a surveillance strategy of screening and isolation for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers. Clin Microbiol Infect, 16(12), 1740-6.
    39. Staes CJ, Gesteland PH, Allison M, Mottice S, Rubin M, Shakib JH, Boulton R, Wuthrich A, Carter ME, Leecaster M, Samore MH, Byington CL (2009). Urgent care providers' knowledge and attitude about public health reporting and pertussis control measures: implications for informatics. J Public Health Manag Pract, 15(6), 471-8. (Read full article)
    40. Rubin MA, Mayer J, Greene T, Sauer BC, Hota B, Trick W, Jernigan JA, Samore MH (2008). An agent-based model for evaluating surveillance methods for catheter-related bloodstream infection. AMIA Annu Symp Proc, 631-5. (Read full article)
    41. Gesteland PH, Allison MA, Staes CJ, Samore MH, Rubin MA, Carter ME, Wuthrich A, Kinney AY, Mottice S, Byington CL (2008). Clinician use and acceptance of population-based data about respiratory pathogens: implications for enhancing population-based clinical practice. AMIA Annu Symp Proc, 232-6. (Read full article)
    42. Rubin MA, Bateman K, Donnelly S, Stoddard GJ, Stevenson K, Gardner RM, Samore MH (2006). Use of a personal digital assistant for managing antibiotic prescribing for outpatient respiratory tract infections in rural communities. J Am Med Inform Assoc, 13(6), 627-34. (Read full article)
    43. Gundlapalli AV, Rubin MA, Samore MH, Lopansri B, Lahey T, McGuire HL, Winthrop KL, Dunn JJ, Willick SE, Vosters RL, Waeckerle JE, Carroll KC, Gwaltney JM Jr, Hayden FG, Elstad MR, Sande MA (2006). Influenza, Winter Olympiad, 2002. Emerg Infect Dis, 12(1), 144-6. (Read full article)
    44. Samore MH, Bateman K, Alder SC, Hannah E, Donnelly S, Stoddard GJ, Haddadin B, Rubin MA, Williamson J, Stults B, Rupper R, Stevenson K (2005). Clinical decision support and appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing: a randomized trial. JAMA, 294(18), 2305-14. (Read full article)
    45. Rubin MA, Bateman K, Alder S, Donnelly S, Stoddard GJ, Samore MH (2005). A multifaceted intervention to improve antimicrobial prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in a small rural community. Clin Infect Dis, 40(4), 546-53. (Read full article)
    46. Shakespeare WA, Davie D, Tonnerre C, Rubin MA, Strong M, Petti CA (2005). Nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi presenting as a primary psoas abscess: case report and review of the literature. J Clin Microbiol, 43(2), 996-8. (Read full article)
    47. Rubin MA, Bateman K, Alder S, Donnelly S, Stoddard GJ, Samore MH (2005). A multifaceted intervention to improve antimicrobial prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in a small rural community. Clin Infect Dis, 40, 546-53.
    48. Rubin MA, Samore MH (2002). Antimicrobial Use and Resistance. Curr Infect Dis Rep, 4(6), 491-497. (Read full article)

    Review

    1. Rubin MA, Samore MH (2001). Antibiotic resistance in outpatient populations. [Review]. V(3), 1-6.

    Conference Proceedings

    1. Gundlapalli A, Doyle G, Sanchez J, Connelly C, Mooney B, Eutropius L, Mayer J, Rubin M, Babitz (2007). Improving Health Care Worker Staffing During an Influenza Pandemic: Insights from a Hospital-Based On-Line Survey. Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 17th Annual Scientific Meeting, Baltimore, MD.
    2. Jeanmarie Mayer, Brett South, Louise Eutropius, Barbara Mooney, Britt Brinton, Michael Rubin, Matthew Samore (2006). Application of a Geographical Information System (GIS) to Enhance Hospital-wide Surveillance for C difficile. SHEA, Chicago.

    Editorial

    1. Rubin MA, Nelson RE, Samore MH (2020). Matching Methods to Problems: Using Data Science and Transmission Modeling to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance. Clin Infect Dis, 72(Suppl 1), S74-S76. (Read full article)

    Abstract

    1. Jones, M, Rubin, M, Greene, T, Leecaster, M, Spuhl, J, Nielson, C, Evans, M, Jain, R, Samore, M (2011). Comparing the Performance of Clinical History of MRSA vs. Active Surveillance at Individual and Hospital Ward Levels [Abstract]. Infectious Disease Society of America Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
    2. Jones, M, Ying, J, Greene, T, Leecaster, M, Huttner, B, Mayer, J, Rubin, M, Samore, M (2011). Analysis of MRSA Transmission Dynamics in the Veterans Affairs System [Abstract]. Annual Scientific Meeting of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
    3. Mayer J, Howell J, Greene T, Rubin M, Ray W, Nordberg B, Hayden C, Nechodom P, Samore M (2010). Assessing inter-rater reliability of surveillance decisions by infection preventionists [Abstract]. Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
    4. Gundlapalli A, Tu M, Hunter C, Connelly C, Herlihy R, Mayer JM, Rubin M, Markewitz B, Turnbull J, Miller T (12/1/2009). Implementing a Hospital-Based Enhanced ICU Surveillance System for H1N1 Pandemic Influenza [Abstract]. . International Society for Disease Surveillance.
    5. Mayer J, Mooney B, Gundlapalli A, Eutropius L, Brinton B, Rubin M, Stockdale W, Stoddard G, Samore M (1/1/2006). Cumulative Benefits of a Hand Hygiene Intervention Based on Ongoing Performance Feedback and an Annually Updated Positive Reinforcement Program [Abstract]. Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2005 Annual Meeting.