Bruce Ribner

Dr. Ribner’s research focus is on hospital epidemiology, prevention, and management of infectious diseases. In addition to defining risk factors, designing interventions for prevention, and evaluating newer agents for treatment of resistant, hospital acquired infectious, he has also developed protocols for the management of patients with serious communicable diseases. He is currently the PI on a number of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site studies evaluating the use of Anthrax Immune Plasma and Anthrax Immune Globulin intravenously for treatment of Anthrax disease, studying the use of NP-016 Vaccinia Immune Globulin (NP-016) for individuals with complications from exposure to Vaccinia virus, evaluating the persistence of antibody to hepatitis B following vaccination, the efficacy of antiviral in patients admitted to the hospital with influenza, and the efficacy of frequent water flushing to maintain microbial water quality in a hospital water systems. He is the PI on an Emory University contract with the CDC for protocol development and hospitalization of CDC workers with potential exposure to serious communicable diseases.

Previously, he has served as PI or Co-PI on more than 20 federal or non-federal research projects. Dr. Ribner is a member of several federal working groups. One group establishes safety guidelines when working with serious communicable pathogens in BSL 3/4 Laboratories through the Scientific Interactions Subcommittee of the National Interagency Biodefense Campus, and another is a NIH working group that deals with the clinical management of patients with hemorrhagic fevers in settings with limited resources and with adequate resources. He also works with the CDC to establish guidelines for protecting laboratory technicians’ work in clinical laboratories.

He is the author of more than 45 peer review publications in outstanding journals including Clinical Microbiology, Infection Control Hospital Epidemiology, and Annuals of Internal Medicine. He has written 12 book chapters, and 1 set of guidelines. Dr. Ribner is Chairman of the Emory University Hospital and the Emory Clinic Infection Control Committees. He is Co-Chair of the Antibiotic Subcommittee of Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

He is a member of several advisory committees: the Emory University’s Cystic Fibrosis Center’s Infection Control, Emory Hospital Laboratory Services, Emory Electronic Medical Record (EEMR) Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) Team, Medical Practices, Liver Transplant Process Improvement, and Pharmacy and Therapeutics. He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Dr. Ribner is a manuscript reviewer for Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology and Clinical Infection Disease. He has received numerous honors and recognitions.

His service, dedication, and contributions to infection control and hospital epidemiology at Emory have been and continue to be significant; as evidenced by the American Nursing Association when they voted Emory Healthcare as one of the 3 best programs in the United States.