Current Projects

We all have microbial communities in and on our bodies that are extremely important for health and development. From previous research, we know that these microbes are picked up very early in life and that they help babies digest food and develop healthy immune systems. We also know that an abnormal microbiome can be associated with increased risk for conditions like asthma, allergies, infections, and obesity.

The MOM study is a longitudinal, observational study that follows participating families for approximately one year to identify the origins of infants’ microbiomes and microbial transmission dynamics among household members and the environment. The central hypothesis of this study is that the term infant bacterial microbiome and virome are acquired from post-natal environmental exposures and persist throughout infancy.

Staphylococcus aureus can be spread from person-to-person and infections often occur in multiple members of the same household. S. aureus can also exist on household surfaces for prolonged periods of time. The SHINE study is a comparative effectiveness trial evaluating several decolonization strategies in patients with MRSA infection, their household contacts, and household environmental surfaces to interrupt transmission of S. aureus among household members and prevent S. aureus infections. The central hypothesis of this trial is that an integrated approach of periodic personal and household environmental hygiene will reduce MRSA transmission in households and subsequently decrease the incidence of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI).

Participants in the SHINE study will be randomized to one of three intervention groups:

1. Periodic personal decolonization

2. Household environmental hygiene

3. Integrated periodic personal decolonization and household environmental hygiene

The SHINE study will enroll pediatric patients with S. aureus infection and their household members from St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Participants will perform the assigned intervention for three months and will be followed for an additional 6 months. The data generated by this study will inform clinical practice for physicians treating patients with S. aureus infections.