Michael A. Rubin

Michael A. Rubin, MD, PhD, MS

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Internal Medicine

Divisions: Epidemiology

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.

Education History

Undergraduate Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences
 BA
Professional Medical University of Illinois at Chicago
 MD
Doctoral Training University of Illinois - Chicago
 PhD
Internship University of Utah School of Medicine
 Intern
Residency University of Utah School of Medicine
 Resident
Fellowship University of Utah School of Medicine
 Fellow
Other Training University of Utah, K30 Training Program
Graduate Training University of Utah
 MS

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Jones M, Samore MH, Carter M, Rubin M (2012). Long-term care facilities in Utah: a description of human and information technology resources applied to infection control practice. American journal of infection control, 40(5), 446-50.
  2. de Perio MA, Brueck SE, Mueller CA, Milne CK, Rubin MA, Gundlapalli AV, Mayer (2012). Evaluation of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) exposures and illness among physicians in training. American journal of infection control, 40(7), 617-21.
  3. 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. Clinical infectious diseases, 55(3), 364-70.
  4. Jones M, Ying J, Huttner B, Evans M, Maw M, Nielson C, Rubin MA, Greene T, Samore M (2014). Relationships between the importation, transmission, and nosocomial infections of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an observational study of 112 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Clinical infectious diseases, 58(1), 32-9.
  5. Rubin MA, Bateman K, Alder S, Donnelly S, Stoddard GJ, Samore M (2005). A multifaceted intervention to improve antimicrobial prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in a small rural community. Clinical infectious diseases, 40, 546-53.
  6. Stevens VW, Khader K, Echevarria K, Nelson RE, Zhang Y, Jones M, Timbrook TT, Samore MH, Rubin M (2020). Use of Oral Vancomycin for Clostridioides difficile Infection and the Risk of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci. Clinical infectious diseases, 71(3), 645-651.
  7. Rubin MA, Bateman K, Alder S, Donnelly S, Stoddard GJ, Samore M (2005). A multifaceted intervention to improve antimicrobial prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in a small rural community. Clinical infectious diseases, 40(4), 546-53.
  8. Slayton RB, O'Hagan JJ, Barnes S, Rhea S, Hilscher R, Rubin M, Lofgren E, Singh B, Segre A, Paul (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. Clinical infectious diseases, 71(9), 2527-2532.
  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. Clinical infectious diseases, 73(8), 1370-1378.
  10. Nelson RE, Goto M, Samore MH, Jones M, Stevens VW, Evans ME, Schweizer ML, Perencevich EN, Rubin M (2021). Expanding an Economic Evaluation of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Prevention Initiative to Include Prevention of Infections From Other Pathogens. Clinical infectious diseases, 72(Suppl 1), S50-S58.
  11. Huttner B, Jones M, Rubin MA, Madaras-Kelly K, Nielson C, Goetz MB, Neuhauser MM, Samore M (2012). Double trouble: how big a problem is redundant anaerobic antibiotic coverage in Veterans Affairs medical centres?. The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 67(6), 1537-9.
  12. Huttner B, Jones M, Huttner A, Rubin M, Samore M (2013). Antibiotic prescription practices for pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections and urinary tract infections throughout the US Veterans Affairs system. The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 68(10), 2393-9.
  13. Jones M, Huttner B, Leecaster M, Huttner A, Damal K, Tanner W, Nielson C, Rubin MA, Goetz MB, Madaras-Kelly K, Samore M (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. The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 69(12), 3401-8.
  14. Shakespeare WA, Davie D, Tonnerre C, Rubin MA, Strong M, Petti C (2005). Nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi presenting as a primary psoas abscess: case report and review of the literature. Journal of clinical microbiology, 43(2), 996-8.
  15. Jones M, Huttner B, Madaras-Kelly K, Nechodom K, Nielson C, Bidwell Goetz M, Neuhauser MM, Samore MH, Rubin M (2012). Parenteral to oral conversion of fluoroquinolones: low-hanging fruit for antimicrobial stewardship programs?. Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 33(4), 362-7.
  16. Mayer J, Mooney B, Gundlapalli A, Harbarth S, Stoddard GJ, Rubin MA, Eutropius L, Brinton B, Samore M (2011). Dissemination and sustainability of a hospital-wide hand hygiene program emphasizing positive reinforcement. Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 32(1), 59-66.
  17. Stevens VW, Shoemaker HE, Jones MM, Jones BE, Nelson RE, Khader K, Samore MH, Rubin M (2020). Validation of the SHEA/IDSA severity criteria to predict poor outcomes among inpatients and outpatients with Clostridioides difficile infection. Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 41(5), 510-516.
  18. 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. Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 43, 1-4.
  19. Dieringer TD, Furukawa D, Graber CJ, Stevens VW, Jones MM, Rubin MA, Goetz M (2021). Inpatient antibiotic utilization in the Veterans' Health Administration during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 42(6), 751-753.
  20. Samore MH, Bateman K, Alder SC, Hannah E, Donnelly S, Stoddard GJ, Haddadin B, Rubin MA, Williamson J, Stults B, Rupper R, Stevenson (2005). Clinical decision support and appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing: a randomized trial. JAMA, 294(18), 2305-14.
  21. 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 (2014). Vital signs: improving antibiotic use among hospitalized patients. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 63(9), 194-200.
  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 (2016). Preliminary Findings from an Investigation of Zika Virus Infection in a Patient with No Known Risk Factors - Utah, 2016. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 65(36), 981-2.
  23. Rubin MA, Bateman K, Donnelly S, Stoddard GJ, Stevenson K, Gardner RM, Samore M (2006). Use of a personal digital assistant for managing antibiotic prescribing for outpatient respiratory tract infections in rural communities. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 13(6), 627-34.
  24. 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 M (2006). Influenza, Winter Olympiad, 2002. Emerging infectious diseases, 12(1), 144-6.
  25. Nelson RE, Samore MH, Smith KJ, Harbarth S, Rubin M (2010). Cost-effectiveness of adding decolonization to a surveillance strategy of screening and isolation for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers. Clinical microbiology and infection, 16(12), 1740-6.
  26. Nelson RE, Samore MH, Smith KJ, Harbarth S, Rubin M (2010). Cost-effectiveness of adding decolonization to a surveillance strategy of screening and isolation for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers. Clinical microbiology and infection, 16(12), 1740-6.
  27. Staes CJ, Gesteland PH, Allison M, Mottice S, Rubin M, Shakib JH, Boulton R, Wuthrich A, Carter ME, Leecaster M, Samore MH, Byington C (2009). Urgent care providers' knowledge and attitude about public health reporting and pertussis control measures: implications for informatics. Journal of public health management and practice, 15(6), 471-8.
  28. Rubin MA, Samore M (2002). Antimicrobial Use and Resistance. Current infectious disease reports, 4(6), 491-497.
  29. Jones MM, 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 medical informatics and decision making, 12, 34.
  30. Jones M, DuVall SL, Spuhl J, Samore MH, Nielson C, Rubin (2012). Identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus within the nation's Veterans Affairs medical centers using natural language processing. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 12, 34.
  31. Rubin MA, Mayer J, Greene T, Sauer BC, Hota B, Trick W, Jernigan JA, Samore M (2008). An agent-based model for evaluating surveillance methods for catheter-related bloodstream infection. AMIA ... Annual Symposium proceedings. AMIA Symposium, 631-5.
  32. Gesteland PH, Allison MA, Staes CJ, Samore MH, Rubin MA, Carter ME, Wuthrich A, Kinney AY, Mottice S, Byington C (2008). Clinician use and acceptance of population-based data about respiratory pathogens: implications for enhancing population-based clinical practice. AMIA ... Annual Symposium proceedings. AMIA Symposium, 232-6.
  33. Huttner B, Jones M, Rubin MA, Neuhauser MM, Gundlapalli A, Samore (2012). Drugs of last resort? The use of polymyxins and tigecycline at US Veterans Affairs medical centers, 2005-2010. PloS one, 7(5), e36649.
  34. Rubin MA, Jones M, Leecaster M, Khader K, Ray W, Huttner A, Huttner B, Toth D, Sablay T, Borotkanics RJ, Gerding DN, Samore M (2013). A simulation-based assessment of strategies to control Clostridium difficile transmission and infection. PloS one, 8(11), e80671.
  35. 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 A (2021). Angiotensin II receptor blocker or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use and COVID-19-related outcomes among US Veterans. PloS one, 16(4), e0248080.
  36. Vaughn VM, Seelye SM, Wang XQ, Wiitala WL, Rubin MA, Prescott H (2020). Inpatient and Discharge Fluoroquinolone Prescribing in Veterans Affairs Hospitals Between 2014 and 2017. Open forum infectious diseases, 7(5), ofaa149.
  37. Vander Weg MW, Perencevich EN, O'Shea 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 H (2019). Effect of Frequency of Changing Point-of-Use Reminder Signs on Health Care Worker Hand Hygiene Adherence: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA network open, 2(10), e1913823.
  38. Rubin M (2021). Was In-Person Attendance at Major College and Professional Football Games in 2020 the Right Call?. JAMA network open, 4(8), e2119580.
  39. Khader K, Thomas A, Stevens V, Visnovsky L, Nevers M, Toth D, Keegan LT, Jones M, Rubin M, Samore M (2021). Association Between Contact Precautions and Transmission of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Veterans Affairs Hospitals. JAMA network open, 4(3), e210971.
  40. 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 C (2021). Evaluation of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) guideline implementation in the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers using the consolidated framework for implementation research. Implementation science communications, 2(1), 69.
  41. 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 (2022). Evaluation of daily environmental cleaning and disinfection practices in veterans affairs acute and long-term care facilities: A mixed methods study. American journal of infection control,
  42. Vivo A, Fitzpatrick MA, Suda KJ, Jones MM, Perencevich EN, Rubin MA, Ramanathan S, Wilson GM, Evans ME, Evans C (2022). Epidemiology and outcomes associated with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a retrospective cohort study. BMC infectious diseases, 22(1), 491.
  43. 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 (2022). Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists: innovating support for early-career family caregivers. The Journal of clinical investigation, 132(23),
  44. Goedken CC, Butler JM, Judd J, Brown N, Rubin M, Goetz M (2023). Antimicrobial physician and pharmacist experience and perception of an antimicrobial Self-Stewardship Time-Out Program (SSTOP) intervention at eight Veterans' Affairs medical centers. Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 1-4.
  45. 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 Progra (2022). Increased carbapenemase testing following implementation of national VA guidelines for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology, 2(1), e88.
  46. Evans ME, Simbartl LA, McCauley BP, Flarida LK, Jones MM, Harris AD, Perencevich EN, Rubin MA, Hicks NR, Kralovic SM, Roselle G (2023). Active Surveillance and Contact Precautions for Preventing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Healthcare-Associated Infections During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Clinical infectious diseases, 77(10), 1381-1386.
  47. Parmasad V, Keating J, McKinley L, Evans C, Rubin M, Voils C, Safdar (2023). Frontline perspectives of C. difficile infection prevention practice implementation within veterans affairs health care facilities: A qualitative study. American journal of infection control, 51(10), 1124-1131.
  48. Suzuki H, Perencevich EN, Hockett Sherlock S, Clore GS, O'Shea 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 M (2023). Implementation of a Prevention Bundle to Decrease Rates of Staphylococcus aureus Surgical Site Infection at 11 Veterans Affairs Hospitals. JAMA network open, 6(7), e2324516.
  49. O'Hara LM, Pineles L, Newman M, Bahr-Robertson M, Baracco GJ, Goetz MB, Ikuta KS, Crnich CJ, Bradley SF, Linder KA, Rubin MA, Khader K, Nelson RE, Johnson JK, Perencevich EN, Evans ME, Harris A (2025). Factors associated with healthcare personnel glove or gown contamination with MRSA: a cohort study of VA hospitals in 5 states. Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 1-5.
  50. Keegan LT, Tanner W, Orleans B, Slayton RB, Jernigan JA, McDonald LC, Noble-Wang J, Leecaster M, Haroldsen C, Khader K, Toth DJA, O'Sullivan T, Samore MH, Brazelton W, Rubin (2025). Environmental and Health Care Personnel Sampling and Unobserved Clostridium difficile Transmission in ICU. JAMA network open, 8(4), e252787.
  51. Shoemaker H, Li H, Zhang Y, Mayer J, Rubin M, Haroldsen C, Millar MM, Gesteland PH, Pavia AT, Keegan LT, Cole JM, Dorsan E, Doane M, Stratford K, Samore (2025). Association between social activities and risk of COVID-19 in a cohort of healthcare personnel. Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology, 5(1), e29.
  52. Goetz MB, Willson T, Rubin MA, Stevens VW, Graber C (2024). Antimicrobial use before and during COVID-19: data from 108 Veterans Affairs medical centers. Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology, 4(1), e109.
  53. Smith M, Crnich C, Donskey C, Evans CT, Evans M, Goto M, Guerrero B, Gupta K, Harris A, Hicks N, Khader K, Kralovic S, McKinley L, Rubin M, Safdar N, Schweizer ML, Tovar S, Wilson G, Zabarsky T, Perencevich E (2024). Research agenda for transmission prevention within the Veterans Health Administration, 2024-2028. Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 45(8), 913-922.

Review

  1. Rubin MA, Samore M (2001). Antibiotic resistance in outpatient populations. V(3), 1-6.
  2. Grant R, Rubin M, Abbas M, Pittet D, Srinivasan A, Jernigan JA, Bell M, Samore M, Harbarth S, Slayton RB, 2023 IPC Think Tank participant (2024). Expanding the use of mathematical modeling in healthcare epidemiology and infection prevention and control. Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 45(8), 930-935.

Conference Proceedings

  1. Jeanmarie Mayer, Brett South, Louise Eutropius, Barbara Mooney, Britt Brinton, Michael Rubin, Matthew Samor (2006). Application of a Geographical Information System (GIS) to Enhance Hospital-wide Surveillance for C difficile.
  2. Gundlapalli A, Doyle G, Sanchez J, Connelly C, Mooney B, Eutropius L, Mayer J, Rubin M, Babit (2007). Improving Health Care Worker Staffing During an Influenza Pandemic: Insights from a Hospital-Based On-Line Survey.

Editorial

  1. Rubin MA, Nelson RE, Samore M (2021). Matching Methods to Problems: Using Data Science and Transmission Modeling to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance. Clinical infectious diseases, 72(Suppl 1), S74-S76.

Abstract

  1. Mayer J, Mooney B, Gundlapalli A, Eutropius L, Brinton B, Rubin M, Stockdale W, Stoddard G, Samore (2006). Cumulative Benefits of a Hand Hygiene Intervention Based on Ongoing Performance Feedback and an Annually Updated Positive Reinforcement Program.
  2. Mayer J, Howell J, Greene T, Rubin M, Ray W, Nordberg B, Hayden C, Nechodom P, Samore (2010). Assessing inter-rater reliability of surveillance decisions by infection preventionists.
  3. Jones, M, Rubin, M, Greene, T, Leecaster, M, Spuhl, J, Nielson, C, Evans, M, Jain, R, Samore, (2011). Comparing the Performance of Clinical History of MRSA vs. Active Surveillance at Individual and Hospital Ward Levels.
  4. 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.
  5. Gundlapalli A, Tu M, Hunter C, Connelly C, Herlihy R, Mayer JM, Rubin M, Markewitz B, Turnbull J, Miller (2009). Implementing a Hospital-Based Enhanced ICU Surveillance System for H1N1 Pandemic Influenza.