Department of Medicine
Faculty Profiles by Division

Department of Medicine

Faculty Profiles
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photo Karin E. Byers, MD, MS

Infectious Diseases

Professor of Medicine and Neurosurgery

Associate Chief of Clinical Care

Clinical Director, Division of Infectious Diseases

Director, Surgical Infections Unit

Email: byerke@upmc.edu

Phone: 412-647-7228
Contact
Office: Falk Medical Building
3601 Fifth Avenue, 7th floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
 
Phone: 412-647-7228
Fax: 412-647-7951
E-mail: byerke@upmc.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Barbara J Holliday
Email: bjh31@pitt.edu
Phone: 412-648-6601
Fax: 412-648-6399
Education and Training
Education
BS, Pennsylvania State Hospital, University Park, PA, 1987
MD, Temple University of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 1991
MS-Epidemiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 1996
Training
Internship, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 1992
Residency Training, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 1994
Infectious Diseases Fellowship, University of Virginia School of Medicine, VA, 1997
Research Interest
Dr. Byers’ major areas of interest are orthopedic and neurosurgical infections. She is also interested in preventing adverse outcomes from antibiotics.
Clinical Interest
Dr. Byers' major clinical interests are in the area of surgical infections with a particular interest in neurosurgical infections and orthopedic infections. She is also interested in nosocomial pathogens and optimal use of antimicrobials.
Publications
Selected Publications:
Tunkel, A. R., Hasbun, R., Bhimraj, A., Byers, K., Kaplan, S. L., Scheld, W. M., Van De Beek, D., Bleck, T. P., Garton, H. J., Zunt, J. R. 2017 Infectious Diseases Society of America's Clinical Practice Guidelines for Healthcare-Associated Ventriculitis and Meningitis. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2017; 64(6): e34-e65.
Viehman JA, Oleksuik LM, Sheridan KR, Byers KE, He P, Falcione BA, Shields RK. Adverse events lead to drug discontinuation more commonly among patients who receive nafcillin compared to oxacillin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2016; pii: AAC.03122-15: 2697858.
Hobson CE, Moy JD, Byers KE, Raz Y, Hirsch BE, McCall AA. Malignant Otitis Externa: Evolving Pathogens and Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014; 151(1): 112-116.
Kono Y, Prevedello DM, Snyderman CH, Gardner PA, Kassam AB, Carrau RL, Byers KE. One thousand endoscopic skull base surgical procedures demystifying the infection potential: incidence and description of postoperative meningitis and brain abscesses. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2011; 32(1): 77-83.
Christini AB, Shitt KA, Byers KE. Influenza vaccination rates and motivators among healthcare worker groups. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2007; 28(2): 171-7.
Harris AE, Hennicke C, Byers KE, Horowitz M, Venkataramanan R, Paterson DL. Postoperative discitis due to Propionibacterium acnes: a case report and review of the literature. Pharmacotherapy. 2004; 24 (6): 803-7.
Shah S, Durkin J, Byers K . E., Snyderman C . H., Gardner P . A., Shields R . K. Microbiologic and Clinical Description of Postoperative Central Nervous System Infection After Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery. World Neurosurgery. 2023.
Gobao V . C., Alfishawy M., Smith C., Byers K . E., Yassin M ., Urish K . L., Shah N . B. Risk Factors, Screening, and Treatment Challenges in Staphylococcus aureus Native Septic Arthritis. Open forum infectious diseases. 2021; 8(1).
McCreary E . K., Byers K . E., Fernandes C., Kline E . G., Nicolau D . P., Shields R . K. Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Ceftolozane and Tazobactam During Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Meningitis. Open forum infectious diseases. 2020; 7(12).
Notable Achievements
"Best Doctors in America", 2015-2023
Clinical Educator of the Year Award, 2017
Infectious Diseases Fellows' Excellence in Teaching Award, 2014
Excellence in Patient Experience Award, 2020
Clinical Educator of the Year Award, 2008

Division Websites

Cardiology

Endocrinology and Metabolism

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

General Internal Medicine

Geriatric Medicine
Hematology/Oncology

Infectious Diseases

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Renal-Electrolyte

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Contact

Department of Medicine
1218 Scaife Hall
3550 Terrace Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Email:  chairoff@pitt.edu
Phone:  412-648-9636
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