Melinda Pettigrew, PhD
Professor AdjunctCards
Additional Titles
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Contact Info
Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
PO Box 208034, 60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8034
United States
About
Titles
Professor Adjunct
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Biography
Melinda Pettigrew, PhD, is a Professor of Epidemiology. She completed a fellowship from the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women and was a Public Voices Thought Leaders Fellow. Professor Pettigrew has an international reputation in the molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases. Professor Pettigrew's research focuses on pathobionts of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts (e.g., Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and the growing public health threat of antibiotic resistance. Her current work utilizes a combined approach involving microbiology and infectious disease epidemiology to identify factors that influence whether pathobionts asymptomatically colonize or cause diseases such as pneumonia and exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Additional projects focus on how disruptions of homeostasis in the respiratory and gastrointestinal microbiome influence colonization resistance, development of antibiotic resistance, and risk of both hospital and community acquired infections. Current projects utilize next-generation sequence technologies (e.g., whole-genome sequencing, 16S rRNA gene microbial profiling, and RNA-sequencing) to examine the complex relationships between the microbiota, antibiotic exposure, and risk of infections. She serves on the Steering and Executive Committees for the Antibiotic Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG). As the Associate Director of the Scientific Leadership Core, focusing on Diversity, Professor Pettigrew leads efforts implement and integrate principles of diversity, access, equity, and inclusion throughout the ARLG. Professor Pettigrew serves on the editorial board of mBio.
Appointments
Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
Professor AdjunctPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- University of Michigan School of Public Health (2002)
- PhD
- Yale University (1999)
Research
Overview
My research focuses on Streptococcus pneumoniae and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. The bacteria that I study asymptomatically colonize the respiratory tract of 10-50% of healthy individuals. While asymptomatic colonization is far more common than disease, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae are important causes of bacterial infections in children and adults (e.g., otitis media, pneumonia, and exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)). Moreover, these infections are frequently, and controversially, treated with antibiotics. We use state-of-the-art methods that integrate clinical epidemiologic, and laboratory studies to elucidate factors that tip the balance between asymptomatic bacterial colonization and disease.
Additional projects focus on how disruptions of homeostasis in the respiratory and gastrointestinal microbiota influence colonization resistance, development of antibiotic resistance, and risk of hospital-acquired infections. We use data and specimens from clinical epidemiologic studies and next-generation sequencing methods to address several key questions including: 1) How does the duration of antibiotic use impact the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in the respiratory and gastrointestinal microbiota? 2) How do antibiotic induced changes in the composition and diversity of the gastrointestinal microbiota contribute to antibiotic-associated diarrhea? and 3) How does the diversity and composition of the microbiota relate to risk of colonization, expansion, and infection due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens? Over the long-term, our research will help identify new methods to exploit protective mechanisms provided by an intact microbiota and lead to new interventions to prevent development of antibiotic resistance and hospital-acquired infections.
Medical Research Interests
Public Health Interests
ORCID
0000-0001-8145-7536
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Yong Kong, PhD
Elizabeth Triche
Martina Wade
Jiye Kwon, MPH
Andrew Ulrich, MD
Howard Forman, MD, MBA, FACR
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Respiratory Tract Infections
Pneumonia
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Infection Control
Publications
2024
WHO global research priorities for antimicrobial resistance in human health
Bertagnolio S, Dobreva Z, Centner C, Olaru I, Donà D, Burzo S, Huttner B, Chaillon A, Gebreselassie N, Wi T, Hasso-Agopsowicz M, Allegranzi B, Sati H, Ivanovska V, Kothari K, Balkhy H, Cassini A, Hamers R, Van Weezenbeek K, Collaborators W, Aanensen D, Alanio A, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Alemayehu T, Al-Hasan M, Allegaert K, Al-Maani A, Al-Salman J, Alshukairi A, Amir A, Applegate T, Araj G, Villalobos M, Årdal C, Ashiru-Oredope D, Ashley E, Babin F, Bachmann L, Bachmann T, Baker K, Balasegaram M, Bamford C, Baquero F, Barcelona L, Bassat Q, Bassetti M, Basu S, Beardsley J, Vásquez G, Berkley J, Bhatnagar A, Bielicki J, Bines J, Bongomin F, Bonomo R, Bradley J, Bradshaw C, Brett A, Brink A, Brown C, Brown J, Buising K, Carson C, Carvalho A, Castagnola E, Cavaleri M, Cecchini M, Chabala C, Chaisson R, Chakrabarti A, Chandler C, Chandy S, Charani E, Chen L, Chiara F, Chowdhary A, Chua A, Chuki P, Chun D, Churchyard G, Cirillo D, Clack L, Coffin S, Cohn J, Cole M, Conly J, Cooper B, Corso A, Cosgrove S, Cox H, Daley C, Darboe S, Darton T, Davies G, de Egea V, Dedeić-Ljubović A, Deeves M, Denkinger C, Dillon J, Dramowski A, Eley B, Esposito S, Essack S, Farida H, Farooqi J, Feasey N, Ferreyra C, Fifer H, Finlayson H, Frick M, Gales A, Galli L, Gandra S, Gerber J, Giske C, Gordon B, Govender N, Guessennd N, Guindo I, Gurbanova E, Gwee A, Hagen F, Harbarth S, Haze J, Heim J, Hendriksen R, Heyderman R, Holt K, Hönigl M, Hook E, Hope W, Hopkins H, Hughes G, Ismail G, Issack M, Jacobs J, Jasovský D, Jehan F, Pearson A, Jones M, Joshi M, Kapil A, Kariuki S, Karkey A, Kearns G, Keddy K, Khanna N, Kitamura A, Kolho K, Kontoyiannis D, Kotwani A, Kozlov R, Kranzer K, Kularatne R, Lahra M, Langford B, Laniado-Laborin R, Larsson J, Lass-Flörl C, Le Doare K, Lee H, Lessa F, Levin A, Limmathurotsakul D, Lincopan N, Vecchio A, Lodha R, Loeb M, Longtin Y, Lye D, Mahmud A, Manaia C, Manderson L, Mareković I, Marimuthu K, Martin I, Mashe T, Mei Z, Meis J, De Melo F, Mendelson M, Miranda A, Moore D, Morel C, Moremi N, Moro M, Moussy F, Mshana S, Mueller A, Ndow F, Nicol M, Nunn A, Obaro S, Obiero C, Okeke I, Okomo U, Okwor T, Oladele R, Omulo S, Ondoa P, de Canese J, Ostrosky-Zeichner L, Padoveze M, Pai M, Park B, Parkhill J, Parry C, Peeling R, Peixe L, Perovic O, Pettigrew M, Principi N, Pulcini C, Puspandari N, Rawson T, Reddy D, Reddy K, Redner P, Tudela J, Rodríguez-Baño J, Van Katwyk S, Roilides E, Rollier C, Rollock L, Ronat J, Ruppe E, Sadarangani M, Salisbury D, Salou M, Samison L, Sanguinetti M, Sartelli M, Schellack N, Schouten J, Schwaber M, Seni J, Senok A, Shafer W, Shakoor S, Sheppard D, Shin J, Sia S, Sievert D, Singh I, Singla R, Skov R, Soge O, Sprute R, Srinivasan A, Srinivasan S, Sundsfjord A, Tacconelli E, Tahseen S, Tangcharoensathien V, Tängdén T, Thursky K, Thwaites G, de Souza Peral R, Tong D, Tootla H, Tsioutis C, Turner K, Turner P, Omar S, van de Sande W, van den Hof S, van Doorn R, Veeraraghavan B, Verweij P, Wahyuningsih R, Wang H, Warris A, Weinstock H, Wesangula E, Whiley D, White P, Williams P, Xiao Y, Moscoso M, Yang H, Yoshida S, Yu Y, Żabicka D, Zignol M, Rudan I. WHO global research priorities for antimicrobial resistance in human health. The Lancet Microbe 2024, 5: 100902. PMID: 39146948, PMCID: PMC11543637, DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(24)00134-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntimicrobial resistanceTreatment of antimicrobial-resistant infectionsConsequences of antimicrobial resistanceAntimicrobial resistance epidemiologyAntimicrobial-resistant infectionsDrug-resistant pathogensAntimicrobial resistance dynamicsResearch prioritiesComprehensive scoping reviewGeneration of evidenceGlobal research prioritiesScoping reviewWHOKnowledge gapsExpert inputResearch agendaHealthBurdenPathogensFungal pathogensPolicy translationTuberculosisDiagnosisInfectionParticipant Diversity in United States Randomized Controlled Trials of Antibacterials for Staphylococcus aureus Infections, 2000–2021
Kwon J, Pelletiers W, Peña J, van Duin D, Ledbetter L, Baum K, Ruffin F, Knisely J, Bizzell E, Fowler V, Chambers H, Pettigrew M. Participant Diversity in United States Randomized Controlled Trials of Antibacterials for Staphylococcus aureus Infections, 2000–2021. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2024, 79: 141-147. PMID: 38306502, PMCID: PMC11259209, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciae049.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsMethicillin-resistant S. aureusRandomized controlled trialsPhase 2/3 trialsPhase 4 trialIncidence of methicillin-resistant S. aureusTreat Staphylococcus aureus infectionsStaphylococcus aureus infectionStandard of carePercentage of study participantsIncidence ratiosClinical trialsEthnicity of participantsControlled trialsStandardized reporting methodsBlack participantsStudy sizeInfectionDisease populationTrialsStudy participantsAntibacterial agentsIncreased recruitmentIndustry sponsorshipEthnicity dataSex
2023
Priorities and Progress in Gram-positive Bacterial Infection Research by the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group: A Narrative Review
Doernberg S, Arias C, Altman D, Babiker A, Boucher H, Creech C, Cosgrove S, Evans S, Fowler V, Fritz S, Hamasaki T, Kelly B, Leal S, Liu C, Lodise T, Miller L, Munita J, Murray B, Pettigrew M, Ruffin F, Scheetz M, Shopsin B, Tran T, Turner N, Williams D, Zaharoff S, Holland T, Patel R, King H, Kinamon T, Dai W, Geres H, Deckard N, Schuler C, Bunn I, Sharma S, Wickward C, Waller J, Wilson H, Mehigan M, Ghazaryan V, Raterman E, Samuel T, Lee M. Priorities and Progress in Gram-positive Bacterial Infection Research by the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group: A Narrative Review. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2023, 77: s295-s304. PMID: 37843115, PMCID: PMC10578051, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad565.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAntibacterial Resistance Leadership GroupMRSA bloodstream infectionsMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureusBloodstream infectionsClinical trialsPediatric community-acquired pneumoniaInfection researchEnterococcal bloodstream infectionsOptimal vancomycin dosingOptimization of dosingRole of dalbavancinCommunity-acquired pneumoniaShort-course therapyInterventional clinical trialsVancomycin-resistant enterococciVancomycin dosingPositive infectionsNovel agentsLife measuresTreat infectionsClinical practiceNarrative reviewInfectionPositive bacteriaStaphylococcus aureusThe Next Generation: Mentoring and Diversity in the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group
Harris A, Souli M, Pettigrew M, Group F. The Next Generation: Mentoring and Diversity in the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2023, 77: s331-s335. PMID: 37843116, PMCID: PMC10578050, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad532.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricSevere acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA and viable virus contamination of hospital emergency department surfaces and association with patient coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) status and aerosol-generating procedures
Roberts S, Barbell E, Barber D, Dahlberg S, Heimer R, Jubanyik K, Parwani V, Pettigrew M, Tanner J, Ulrich A, Wade M, Wyllie A, Yolda-Carr D, Martinello R, Tanner W. Severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA and viable virus contamination of hospital emergency department surfaces and association with patient coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) status and aerosol-generating procedures. Infection Control And Hospital Epidemiology 2023, 45: 244-246. PMID: 37767709, PMCID: PMC10877528, DOI: 10.1017/ice.2023.183.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricAdaptation of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in Human Airways in COPD: Genome Rearrangements and Modulation of Expression of HMW1 and HMW2
Murphy T, Kirkham C, D’Mello A, Sethi S, Pettigrew M, Tettelin H. Adaptation of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in Human Airways in COPD: Genome Rearrangements and Modulation of Expression of HMW1 and HMW2. MBio 2023, 14: e00140-23. PMID: 36927061, PMCID: PMC10127715, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00140-23.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseNontypeable Haemophilus influenzaeObstructive pulmonary diseaseRespiratory epithelial cellsHuman airwaysHaemophilus influenzaeAirway inflammationLung functionMechanisms of persistencePulmonary diseaseEpithelial cellsNovel interventionsChronic lower airway infectionsProgressive lossAirways of adultsLower airway infectionHuman respiratory epithelial cellsCommon debilitating disorderStrains of NTHiNTHi infectionAirway infectionLower airwaysCommon causeSequential isolatesSerial isolates
2022
Impact of antibiotics on off-target infant gut microbiota and resistance genes in cohort studies
Lebeaux RM, Madan JC, Nguyen QP, Coker MO, Dade EF, Moroishi Y, Palys TJ, Ross BD, Pettigrew MM, Morrison HG, Karagas MR, Hoen AG. Impact of antibiotics on off-target infant gut microbiota and resistance genes in cohort studies. Pediatric Research 2022, 92: 1757-1766. PMID: 35568730, PMCID: PMC9659678, DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02104-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAntibiotic exposureCohort studyDay careDay care attendanceInfant gut microbiotaAntibiotic resistance genesCare attendanceImpact of antibioticsAntibiotic useStool samplesGut microbiotaInfantsGut microbiomeStudy designBacteroides fragilisAntibioticsBackgroundYoung childrenNovel findingsSubsequent exposureExposureFirst yearFurther investigationBaselineResistance genesCareComparison of the Respiratory Resistomes and Microbiota in Children Receiving Short versus Standard Course Treatment for Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Pettigrew MM, Kwon J, Gent JF, Kong Y, Wade M, Williams DJ, Creech CB, Evans S, Pan Q, Walter EB, Martin JM, Gerber JS, Newland JG, Hofto ME, Staat MA, Fowler VG, Chambers HF, Huskins WC. Comparison of the Respiratory Resistomes and Microbiota in Children Receiving Short versus Standard Course Treatment for Community-Acquired Pneumonia. MBio 2022, 13: e00195-22. PMID: 35323040, PMCID: PMC9040816, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00195-22.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCommunity-acquired pneumoniaShort-course strategyBeta-lactam therapyTreatment strategiesAntibiotic useRespiratory microbiomePediatric community-acquired pneumoniaDays of antibioticsShorter antibiotic coursesStandard-strategy groupDays of therapyStandard treatment strategyAntibiotic resistanceAdditional rationaleEffectiveness of interventionsImpact of durationAntibiotic coursesThroat swabsCourse strategyAntibiotic treatmentPediatric pneumoniaCourse treatmentLow prevalencePneumoniaAntibiotic resistance determinantsGastrointestinal Microbiome Disruption and Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in Children Receiving Antibiotic Therapy for Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Kwon J, Kong Y, Wade M, Williams DJ, Creech CB, Evans S, Walter EB, Martin JM, Gerber JS, Newland JG, Hofto ME, Staat MA, Chambers HF, Fowler VG, Huskins WC, Pettigrew M. Gastrointestinal Microbiome Disruption and Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea in Children Receiving Antibiotic Therapy for Community-Acquired Pneumonia. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2022, 226: 1109-1119. PMID: 35249113, PMCID: PMC9492313, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac082.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAAD groupAntibiotic-Associated DiarrheaCommunity-Acquired PneumoniaCommon side effectsStudy days 1Days of diarrheaPatient characteristicsAntibiotic therapyNineteen childrenStool samplesSide effectsDay 1Microbiome disruptionMicrobiota profilesGastrointestinal microbiotaMicrobiota characteristicsDiarrheaBacteroides speciesPneumoniaChildrenAntibioticsΒ-lactamsAADBaseline abundanceDysbiosisShort- vs Standard-Course Outpatient Antibiotic Therapy for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children
Williams DJ, Creech CB, Walter EB, Martin JM, Gerber JS, Newland JG, Howard L, Hofto ME, Staat MA, Oler RE, Tuyishimire B, Conrad TM, Lee MS, Ghazaryan V, Pettigrew MM, Fowler VG, Chambers HF, Zaoutis TE, Evans S, Huskins WC, Team A. Short- vs Standard-Course Outpatient Antibiotic Therapy for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children. JAMA Pediatrics 2022, 176: 253-261. PMID: 35040920, PMCID: PMC8767493, DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.5547.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsChildhood community-acquired pneumoniaAntibiotic-associated adverse effectsShort-course strategyClinical responseAdverse effectsDouble-blind placebo-controlled clinical trialPlacebo-controlled clinical trialEnd pointDays of antibioticsEarly clinical improvementInadequate clinical responseOutpatient antibiotic therapyShorter antibiotic durationsSimilar clinical responseCommunity-Acquired PneumoniaPrimary end pointComposite end pointResolution of symptomsAntibiotic treatment strategiesSubset of childrenAntibiotic daysAntibiotic durationClinical improvementAntibiotic therapyInitial treatment
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
honor Yale School of Public Health Distinguished Teaching Award
Other AwardYale School of Public HealthDetails05/14/2018United Stateshonor Inspiring Yale
Yale University AwardYale Graduate and Profession Student SenateDetails04/11/2018United Statesactivity National Institutes of Health
Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsCommittee MemberDetailsClinical Research and Field Studies of Infectious Diseases (CRFS)07/01/2010 - 07/01/2014honor New Professional Award
UnknownAssociation of Yale Alumni in Public HealthDetails06/05/2009United States
News
News
- December 08, 2023
Sudanese ‘Scholar at Risk’ finds safety and a temporary home at YSPH
- July 13, 2023Source: Yale Today
Yale's Pettigrew to lead University of Minnesota School of Public Health
- June 19, 2023
A Day for Reflection and Celebration
- May 22, 2023
Public health graduates urged to “soldier on” at 2023 Commencement
Get In Touch
Contacts
Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
PO Box 208034, 60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8034
United States
Administrative Support
Locations
60 College Street
Academic Office
Ste 720
New Haven, CT 06510