Dr. Seema Oommen Consultant Microbiologist, Section Head – Microbiology

Research & Publications

• Genomic approach to evaluate the intrinsic antibacterial activity of novel diazabicyclooctanes (zidebactam and nacubactam) against clinical Escherichia coli isolates from diverse clonal lineages in the United Arab Emirates, Journal of Infection and Public Health, Volume 18, Issue 6,2025.
• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: The Shifting Landscape in the United Arab Emirates. Antibiotics 2025, 14, 24.
• Impact of COVID-19 on Antibiotic Stewardship, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Prescribing Habits at Two General Hospitals in Abu Dhabi: A Retrospective Analysis. Cureus 16(9): e69170. September 11, 2024
• Antibiotic Stewardship Program in a General Hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE: Preparedness for the COVID-19 Pandemic. Cureus 16(8): e67270. August 20, 2024
• Assessing the Genetic Diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in Kerala, India: A comprehensive Study. J Med Microbiol Infect Dis, 2024; 12 (1): 42 -49.
• Evaluation of Abbott ID Now Rapid assay with Real-Time Reverse Transcription PCR Assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2. J Pure Appl Microbiol. Published online 31 May 2024.
• Salmonella Typhi in Urine Associated with Bilateral Nephrocalcinosis: A Rare Case Report. American Journal of Medical and Clinical Sciences, 2023 vol 9, no. 1, page 1 – 2.
• Analytical Performance of Direct Rapid Nucleic Acid Assay for Detection of SARS-CoV-2. International Journal of Biomedicine. 2023; 13(4): Management of Cepacia syndrome in an immunocompetent non-cystic fibrosis adult patient, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 122, 2022, Pages 550-552, Characterization of Mutations Associated with Rifampicin Resistance in Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Centre, Kerala. Int J Cur Res Rev. Vol 13 Issue 05, March, 2021, 126-131, Comparison of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Microbiological and Histopathological Observations in the Diagnosis of Endometrial Tuberculosis. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2020 Dec;70(6):510-515.
• Polymerase chain reaction for Clostridioides difficile infection detection: Necessity or redundancy? – A pilot study in a tertiary health-care centre in Central Kerala. J Acad Clin Microbiol 2020; 22: 35-40.
• Evaluation of IgM ELISA, Weil Felix test and indirect immunofluorescence assay in the diagnosis of scrub typhus. Indian Journal of Applied Research January 2020; Volume-10, Issue-1, 1-3. Print ISSN No. 2249 - 555X.
• Assay of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IFN γ, TNFα) and its correlation with disease severity in dengue fever. International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research 2019; 6(8):H6-H9
• Detection of Circulating Dengue Virus Serotypes in a Tertiary Care Centre in Central Kerala, 2016. Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 2019; 8(01): 2669-2678
• Prevalence and Outcome of Clostridioides difficile Infection in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kerala, India. National Journal of Laboratory Medicine. 2019, Jan, Vol-8(1): MO01-MO04.
• A study on the circulating genotypes of Hepatitis C virus in a tertiary care hospital in Central Kerala. Indian J Med Microbiol 2018; 36: 532-6
• Antimicrobial resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii infection of lower respiratory tract and mortality – A cross-sectional study from a tertiary care teaching hospital in Kerala. October-December, 2018. IP-Indian Journal of Immunology and Respiratory Medicine;3(4):183-187.
• Clinico-Hematological Profile of Dengue Fever during the Monsoon of 2016 in Central Kerala. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research.
• International Journal of Health Sciences & Research. December 2018; Vol.8; Issue: 12; 18-24.
• Evaluation of culture methods for isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and its resistance among pulmonary tuberculosis cases in a tertiary care setting, Kerala - A Pilot Study. Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 2018; 7(11): 452-460.
• Prevalence of Hepatitis C amongst high-risk groups and patients in a tertiary care center in central Kerala and their clinico-hematological profile. Indian Journal of Applied Research. October 2018; 8 (10): 453
• Clinical profile and outcome of patients with sputum positive Acinetobacter baumanni infection. European Respiratory Journal Sep 2018, 52 (suppl 62) PA4723.
• Evaluation of Diagnostic Significance and Cost Effectiveness of ELISA and IFA for the Diagnosis of Autoimmune Disorders. Immunome Res 2018, Vol 14(2): 155.
• Prevalence of M. tuberculosis complex isolates amongst Cases of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in a Tertiary Care Centre in Central Kerala. International Journal of Health Sciences & Research. August 2018; 8 (8): 74-80.
• Detection of scrub typhus at a tertiary health centre in Central Kerala. J Acad Clin Microbiol 2018; 20: 28-32.
• Laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis: Advances in technology and drug susceptibility testing. Indian J Med Microbiol 2017; 35: 323-31.
• Comparison of antimicrobial susceptibility testing practices in 20 clinical microbiology laboratories in India. The Journal of the Academy of Clinical Microbiologists, Jan-Jun 2017;19(1).5-11.
• producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) and Tetracycline resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (TRNG) from Central Kerala. Int J of Med Microbiol and Trop Dis. Jan-March 2017; 3 (1): 42-44.
• An unusual case of bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis. Pushpagiri Medical Journal. July- Dec 2016: Vol 8 (1): 55-56.
• Prevalence and clinical profile of Mycoplasma pneumoniae respiratory infection in children: a hospital based study. Int J Contemp Pediatr. 2016; 3(2): 612-615.
• What is happening to our Pseudomonas? Trends of susceptibilities of culture-confirmed Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in a tertiary care hospital. The Journal of the Academy of Clinical Microbiologists, July-Dec 2015;17(2).75-80.
• Epidemiology of Non-Typhoidal Salmonella among patients attending a Tertiary Care Centre in central Kerala. The Journal of the Academy of Clinical Microbiologists, Jan –Jun 2015; 17(1): 12-15
• Nocardiosis in central Kerala: A case series. Int J Med Public Health 2015; 5: 384-6.
• Blood stream infections by Candida species and their susceptibility to various anti-fungal drugs. Pushpagiri Medical Journal. Jan- June 2015: Vol 6 (2): 84-88.
• Scrub typhus- A retrospective study at a tertiary health care centre in Central Kerala. Pushpagiri Medical Journal. July- Dec 2014: Vol 6 (1): 11-15.
• Study on the clinical profile of paediatric tuberculosis and comparison with adult tuberculosis: Experience from a tertiary care centre in South India. Pushpagiri Medical Journal. Jan-June 2014: Vol 5, 2: 102-105
• Anti-HBs antibody status of healthcare workers in Pushpagiri Institute of Medical sciences and Research Centre. Pushpagiri Medical Journal. Jan-June 2014: Vol 5, 2: 111-113
• HBx Gene Mutations in Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Gastroenterology Research. 2014; 7 (1):1-4.
• Microbiological analysis of respiratory specimens in a tertiary care hospital-A retrospective study. Pushpagiri Medical Journal July-Dec 2013. Vol 5, No.1, 33-40
• Burkholderia pseudomallei – Three cases in 6 months in Central Travancore. JACM 2013; 15:1:19-21.
• Cefotaximase and AmpC-producing Shigella flexneri in case of dysentery from southern India. Indian J Med Microbiol 2013; 31: 1: 77-79.
• Characterization & antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of clinical isolates of Enterococci at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai, India. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 2012; 5(2):85-88.
• Towards a rational antimicrobial testing policy in the laboratory. Indian J Med Microbiol 2011; 29:209-12.
• A combined diagnostic approach to Rheumatoid Arthritis using anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and rheumatoid factor. IJMM, 2011; 29 (2): 195-196.
• Mupirocin resistance in clinical isolates of staphylococci in a tertiary care centre of India. IJMM, 2010; 28 (4): 372-5
• Comparison of Hospital and Community Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in a tertiary care hospital. Pushpagiri Medical Journal. Jan-June 2010: Vol 1, 2: 77-79
• Salmonella Brain Abscess in an Infant. Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology, April – June 2009: 52 (2), 269-270.
• Multiple Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycotic Abscesses due to Exophiala jeanselmei. The Journal of the Academy of Clinical Microbiologists, June 2008; 10(1): 33-35
• Breast abscess due to Chromobacterium violaeceum. The Journal of the Academy of Clinical Microbiologists, June 2008; 10(1): 43-45
• A comparative study of two concentration methods for acid-fast bacilli. The Journal of the Academy of Clinical Microbiologists 2005; 7(2): 69-71
• Asymptomatic bacteriuria in young adults. The Journal of the Academy of Clinical Microbiologists 2005; 7(2): 63-64.
• Clinical and Microbiological profiles of nosocomial infections in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Indian Paediatrics Dec 17, 2004; 41:1238-1246.
• Clostridium ramosum in a case of cerebellar abscess. Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology 2001; 19(3): 149-150.
• Books: Chapter in Print: Textbook. Seema Oommen. Emerging Respiratory Pandemics. In Clinical Pathways in Emergency Medicine. Volume I, Chapter 45, 2016: 557-567. S. Suresh S. David editor. Springer Link. First edition ISBN 978-81-322-2710-6
• Research including: Eight DoH-UAE approved research studies as a Principal Investigator of which three are completed and four are ongoing, Postgraduate MD and PhD Guide in Microbiology for more than 10 years at her previous role as Professor and Head of Department in a tertiary care medical college and Hospital

Education & Training

• MD (Microbiology)
• DNB (Microbiology)
• DipRCPath (London)

Certification

• Certifications in Hospital Infection Control, PCR Techniques, Infectious Diseases and Radioimmunoassay (RIA) Techniques

Membership

• Member, The Royal College of Pathologists, London (Diplomate Overseas – Membership Grade A)
• Member, Emirates Society of Clinical Microbiologists, UAE
• Life Member, Indian Association of Microbiologists
• Life Member, Academy of Clinical Microbiologists, India
• Life Member, Hospital Infection Society, India
• Life Member, Indian Medical Association, Thiruvalla, Kerala