Microbial Pathology

Dr. Thomas has been a clinical microbiologist and Director of Microbiology and Virology Laboratories at two medical school affiliated, large teaching hospitals for over 35 distinguished years. He has integrated clinical, scholarly activities, resident teaching, clinical research and physician focused service (antibiotic resistance).

In 1999 he added the Mountain State-Oral Facial Microbiology Laboratory, one of only seven Fee-for-Service Dental Laboratories incorporating the strengths and diagnostic skills of a traditional diagnostic laboratory with a research laboratory, establishing a link between oral hygiene and lung infections (Oral Systemic Hypothesis).

Dr. Thomas’ Patient Care/Physician Focus is highlighted by the development and deployment of electronic internet-available “tools” (or adjunctive diagnositic Help-Guide) addressing rapid patient classification and antibiotic resistance. These include the Bug-Drug Calculator™ (Patented in 2001); Fungus Risk Indicator, Antibiotic Cost Calculator, and the unique WVUH Antibiograms for Tracking Resistance: Bacterial by Service and Site, Fungal and Dental.

Recent additions highlighting “Research Bench to Clinical Bench” under Dr. Thomas’ direction include: Molecular probes using FISH; Minimal Biofilm Elimination Concentration (MBEC) for biofilm associated isolates using the Calgary Biofilm Device, and detection of biofilms on Indwelling Medical Devices (IMDs)

For Outreach, Dr. Thomas created the WV-Hospital Microbiology Network with Pfizer Support in 1993. In 1995 he also integrated the WV monthly meeting with the South Central Association of Clinical Microbiology (SCACM), the biannual Regional Microbiology group as the seventh state member.