Lona Mody M.D., M.Sc.

Title and department:

Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine
University of Michigan
Associate Director, Clinical Programs, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center,  Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System

Mailing address:

11 G GRECC
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
2215 Fuller Dr, Ann Arbor MI 48105-2399

Phone: 734-845-3072

E-mail: lonamody@umich.edu

Research Interests

1. Infections and antimicrobial resistance in older adults
2. Molecular epidemiology of resistant pathogens in older institutionalized population
3. Implementation of infection control policies and guidelines in nursing homes

Recent Publications

1. Mody L.  Optimizing antimicrobial use in nursing homes:  No longer optional.  Editorial.   J Am Geriatr Soc 2007;55:1301-2.

2. Mody L, Cinti S.  Pandemic preparedness in nursing homes:  Are we ready?  J Am Geriatr Soc 2007;55:1431-7.

3. Mody L, Maheshwari S, Galecki A, Bradley SF, Kauffman CA.  Indwelling device use and antibiotic resistance in nursing homes: Identifying a high-risk group.  J Am Geriatr Soc 2007;55:1921-6.

4. Mody L, Kauffman CA, Donabedian S, Zervos M, Bradley SF, Kauffman CA.  Epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus colonization in nursing homes. Clin Infect Dis 2008;46:1368-73.

5. Rogers MA, Mody L, Kaufman S, Fries B, McMahon L, Saint S.  Use of urinary collection devices in skilled nursing facilities in five states.  J Am Geriatr Soc, 2008;56:854-61.

6. Rogers MA, Mody L, Chenoweth C, Kaufman S, Saint S.  Incidence of Antibiotic-Resistant Infection in Long-Term Residents of Skilled Nursing Facilities.  In press, Am J Infect Control, April 2008.

7. Aiello A, Malinis M, Knapp J, Mody L.  Hand hygiene practices in nursing homes:  Does knowledge influence practice? In press, Am J Infect Control, April 2008.

8. Smith PW, Bennett G, Bradley SF, Drinka P, Lautenbach E, Marx J, McGeer A, Mody L, Nicolle L, Richards C, Stevenson K.  Infection prevention and control in long-term care facilities (Guidelines Update).  In press, Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, April 2008.

9. Mody L, Miller D, McGloin J, Freeman M, Marcantonio E, Magaziner J, Studenski S.  Recruitment and retention of older adults in aging research.  In press, J Am Geriatr Soc, May 2008.

10. Smith PW, Meza J, Smith A, Kaufman M, Mody L.  Nursing home pandemic preparedness: A 2 state survey.  In press, JAMA, June 2008.

11. Mody L, Saint S, Kaufman S, Kowalski C, Krein S.  Adoption of alcohol-based hand rub in US hospitals: a national survey.  Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, July 2008.

Brief Biography

Dr. Mody’s research program focuses on epidemiology of infections & antimicrobial resistance in long-term care facilities.  She also studies infection control programs in nursing homes with specific focus on identifying a subgroup of residents at a highest risk of acquiring and transmitting antimicrobial resistance.  She has built a consortium of 14 community based nursing homes interested in infection control and quality improvement projects. 

She leads a series of NIA (K Award) funded projects to evaluate epidemiology of MRSA and resistant gram-negative bacteria in one such group – those with indwelling devices such as a urinary catheter and enteral feeding tubes.  Her laboratory-based projects include defining time to colonization with these pathogens and molecular characterization of MRSA in nursing homes including prevalence of recently defined community-acquired MRSA.  Related projects also include assessment of healthcare workers’ knowledge regarding caring for residents with these indwelling devices and adopting infection control polices in institutional setting. 

She is also the first AGS/ASP T. Franklin awardee.  She continues to be active nationally.  She chaired the Junior Research Faculty Steering Committee at the AGS and co-chairs Medical Specialties Section at the AGS.