Michael Pichichero

Last updated
Michael E. Pichichero
Alma materUniversity of Rochester School of Medicine
Known for Thimerosal controversy
AwardsBreese Award for Outstanding Contribution to Clinical Research, Teaching and Practice, 2005
Scientific career
FieldsPediatrics, toxicology
InstitutionsUniversity of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester General Hospital Research Institute

Michael E. Pichichero is an American physician who is the Director of the Rochester General Hospital Research Institute, a Research Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology and a clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center. [1] He is the author of a number of scientific studies regarding the safety of thimerosal as a preservative in vaccines.

Contents

Biography

Pichichero received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, and his medical degree from the University of Rochester. [2] He did post graduate training at the University of Colorado, Denver. He completed fellowships in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Adult and Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at the University of Rochester, NY.[ citation needed ]

Scientific career

Pichichero's studies say that ethylmercury, the metabolite of thimerosal, is rapidly metabolized and excreted after administration of thimerosal-containing vaccines, as well as that administration thereof does not raise blood mercury levels above the EPA's lower limit. In addition, his research has concluded that ethylmercury is metabolized about six times as fast as methylmercury (the kind of mercury found in fish), and that the former has a blood half-life of about 3.7 days whereas the latter has a half-life of 44 days. [3] His research says that after children receive a vaccine with thimerosal in it, their blood mercury levels return to normal within only a month. [4] [5]

Pichichero has written a textbook about streptococcal pharyngitis. [6] A board-certified immunologist, he was on the team of scientists at the University of Rochester who invented the Hib vaccine. [7] His more recent research, however, has focused on ear infections and their treatment with antibiotics. [8]

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ampicillin</span> Antibiotic

Ampicillin is an antibiotic used to prevent and treat a number of bacterial infections, such as respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, meningitis, salmonellosis, and endocarditis. It may also be used to prevent group B streptococcal infection in newborns. It is used by mouth, by injection into a muscle, or intravenously. Common side effects include rash, nausea, and diarrhea. It should not be used in people who are allergic to penicillin. Serious side effects may include Clostridium difficile colitis or anaphylaxis. While usable in those with kidney problems, the dose may need to be decreased. Its use during pregnancy and breastfeeding appears to be generally safe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amoxicillin</span> Beta-lactam antibiotic

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic medication used to treat a number of bacterial infections. These include middle ear infection, strep throat, pneumonia, skin infections, and urinary tract infections among others. It is taken by mouth, or less commonly by injection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Group A streptococcal infection</span> Medical condition

Group A streptococcal infections are a number of infections with Streptococcus pyogenes, a group A streptococcus (GAS). S. pyogenes is a species of beta-hemolytic gram-positive bacteria that is responsible for a wide range of infections that are mostly common and fairly mild. If the bacteria enter the bloodstream an infection can become severe and life-threatening, and is called an invasive GAS (iGAS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarlet fever</span> Infectious disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes

Scarlet fever, also known as Scarlatina, is an infectious disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes a Group A streptococcus (GAS). The infection is a type of Group A streptococcal infection. It most commonly affects children between five and 15 years of age. The signs and symptoms include a sore throat, fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic rash. The face is flushed and the rash is red and blanching. It typically feels like sandpaper and the tongue may be red and bumpy. The rash occurs as a result of capillary damage by exotoxins produced by S.pyogenes. On darker-pigmented skin the rash may be hard to discern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streptococcal pharyngitis</span> Medical condition

Streptococcal pharyngitis, also known as streptococcal sore throat(strep throat), is pharyngitis (an infection of the pharynx, the back of the throat) caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, a gram-positive, group A streptococcus. Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, red tonsils, and enlarged lymph nodes in the front of the neck. A headache and nausea or vomiting may also occur. Some develop a sandpaper-like rash which is known as scarlet fever. Symptoms typically begin one to three days after exposure and last seven to ten days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thiomersal</span> Organomercury antiseptic and antifungal agent

Thiomersal (INN), or thimerosal, is an organomercury compound. It is a well-established antiseptic and antifungal agent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pharyngitis</span> Medical condition

Pharyngitis is inflammation of the back of the throat, known as the pharynx. It typically results in a sore throat and fever. Other symptoms may include a runny nose, cough, headache, difficulty swallowing, swollen lymph nodes, and a hoarse voice. Symptoms usually last 3–5 days, but can be longer depending on cause. Complications can include sinusitis and acute otitis media. Pharyngitis is a type of upper respiratory tract infection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cephalosporin</span> Class of pharmaceutical drugs

The cephalosporins are a class of β-lactam antibiotics originally derived from the fungus Acremonium, which was previously known as Cephalosporium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cefazolin</span> Chemical compound

Cefazolin, also known as cefazoline and cephazolin, is a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. Specifically it is used to treat cellulitis, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, endocarditis, joint infection, and biliary tract infections. It is also used to prevent group B streptococcal disease around the time of delivery and before surgery. It is typically given by injection into a muscle or vein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonsillitis</span> Inflammation of the tonsils

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils in the upper part of the throat. It can be acute or chronic. Acute tonsillitis typically has a rapid onset. Symptoms may include sore throat, fever, enlargement of the tonsils, trouble swallowing, and enlarged lymph nodes around the neck. Complications include peritonsillar abscess.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epiglottitis</span> Inflammation of the epiglottis

Epiglottitis is the inflammation of the epiglottis—the flap at the base of the tongue that prevents food entering the trachea (windpipe). Symptoms are usually rapid in onset and include trouble swallowing which can result in drooling, changes to the voice, fever, and an increased breathing rate. As the epiglottis is in the upper airway, swelling can interfere with breathing. People may lean forward in an effort to open the airway. As the condition worsens, stridor and bluish skin may occur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cefalexin</span> Beta-lactam antibiotic

Cefalexin, also spelled cephalexin, is an antibiotic that can treat a number of bacterial infections. It kills gram-positive and some gram-negative bacteria by disrupting the growth of the bacterial cell wall. Cefalexin is a beta-lactam antibiotic within the class of first-generation cephalosporins. It works similarly to other agents within this class, including intravenous cefazolin, but can be taken by mouth.

Ethylmercury (sometimes ethyl mercury) is a cation composed of an organic CH3CH2- species (an ethyl group) bound to a mercury(II) centre, making it a type of organometallic cation, and giving it a chemical formula C2H5Hg+. The main source of ethylmercury is thimerosal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cefprozil</span> Chemical compound

Cefprozil is a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. Originally discovered in 1983, and approved in 1992, it was sold under the tradename Cefzil by Bristol Meyers Squibb until 2010 when the brand name version was discontinued. It continues to be available from various companies in its generic form. It is used in the treatment of pharyngitis, tonsillitis, ear infections, acute sinusitis, bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and skin and skin structure infections. It is currently available as a tablet and as a liquid suspension.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Group B streptococcal infection</span> Medical condition

Group B streptococcal infection, also known as Group B streptococcal disease or just Group B strep, is the infection caused by the bacterium Streptococcus agalactiae. GBS infection can cause serious illness and sometimes death, especially in newborns, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical microbiology</span> Branch of medical science

Medical microbiology, the large subset of microbiology that is applied to medicine, is a branch of medical science concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. In addition, this field of science studies various clinical applications of microbes for the improvement of health. There are four kinds of microorganisms that cause infectious disease: bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses, and one type of infectious protein called prion.

Perianal cellulitis, also known as perianitis or perianal streptococcal dermatitis, is a bacterial infection affecting the lower layers of the skin (cellulitis) around the anus. It presents as bright redness in the skin and can be accompanied by pain, difficulty defecating, itching, and bleeding. This disease is considered a complicated skin and soft tissue infection (cSSTI) because of the involvement of the deeper soft tissues.

<i>Cedillo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services</i> Legal case in United States Court of Federal Claims, decided February 12, 2009

Michelle Cedillo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, also known as Cedillo, was a court case involving the family of Michelle Cedillo, an autistic girl whose parents sued the United States government because they believed that her autism was caused by her receipt of both the measles-mumps-and-rubella vaccine and thimerosal-containing vaccines. The case was a part of the Omnibus Autism Proceeding, where petitioners were required to present three test cases for each proposed mechanism by which vaccines had, according to them, caused their children's autism; Cedillo was the first such case for the MMR-and-thimerosal hypothesis.

Frank DeStefano FACPM is a medical epidemiologist and researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he is director of the Immunization Safety Office.

The side effects of penicillin are bodily responses to penicillin and closely related antibiotics that do not relate directly to its effect on bacteria. A side effect is an effect that is not intended with normal dosing. Some of these reactions are visible and some occur in the body's organs or blood. Penicillins are a widely used group of medications that are effective for the treatment of a wide variety of bacterial infections in human adults and children as well as other species. Some side effects are predictable, of which some are common but not serious, some are uncommon and serious and others are rare. The route of administration of penicillin can have an effect on the development of side effects. An example of this is irritation and inflammation that develops at a peripheral infusion site when penicillin is administered intravenously. In addition, penicillin is available in different forms. There are different penicillin medications as well as a number of β-lactam antibiotics derived from penicillin.

References

  1. "Michael E. Pichichero". University of Rochester Medical Center. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  2. "Meet our Doctors". Legacy Pediatrics. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  3. Barclay, Laurie (3 December 2002). "Mercury in Vaccines: A Newsmaker Interview With Michael E. Pichichero, MD". Medscape . Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  4. Johnson, Carla K. (31 January 2008). "Study: Mercury fades quickly from blood". USA Today . Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. Reinberg, Steven (23 March 2008). "Mercury in Childhood Vaccines Excreted Quickly". ABC News . Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  6. Pichichero, Michael (2007). Clinical Management of Streptococcal Pharyngitis. Professional Communications. ISBN   9781932610154.
  7. "Our Researchers". Rochester General Health System . Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  8. Dooren, Jennifer (17 October 2007). "Ear Bacteria Resist Treatment". Wall Street Journal . Retrieved 25 November 2014.