SUMMARY
The research of Robert Orenstein, D.O., is focused on the prevention and management of health care-acquired infections. With the Mayo Clinic Infection Prevention and Control team, he has helped design systems for surveillance of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection and designed interventions to reduce transmission of C. difficile infections in the hospital environment.
In collaboration with Mayo Clinic gastroenterologists, Dr. Orenstein has studied risks for transmission of C. difficile in the community. Dr. Orenstein's team has been responsible for diffusing these best practices across Mayo Clinic's campuses and assisting other health care institutions and health departments with implementing these best practices.
Additionally, his team at Mayo Clinic in Arizona focuses on providing fecal microbiota transplantation for patients with relapsing C. difficile disease.
Focus areas
- Prevention of health care-acquired C. difficile infection
- Treatment of complicated infections due to C. difficile
- Understanding the microbiome and its role in fecal microbiota therapy
- Clinical trials of new therapeutics for C. difficile infection
Significance to patient care
Dr. Orenstein's work on prevention has led to significant reductions in health care-associated infections occurring at Mayo Clinic facilities. His program in fecal microbiota transplantation offers patients relief from chronic relapsing C. difficile infection.
Understanding the mechanisms by which these treatments work should help lead to solutions and preventive measures for the future.