Description of Research: Sandro Cinti

Bioterrorism/Emerging Infections

Dr. Cinti is an infectious diseases physician with ongoing involvement in the preparation for bioterrorism and emerging infections at both the national, state and local level. He has been a member of the State of Michigan Bioterrorism Subcommittee since its inception in 1999 and is an external reviewer for the Communicable Diseases Plan being developed by the Michigan Department of Community Health. Dr. Cinti is also a member of the Washtenaw County Bioterrorism Subcommittee and the Michigan Infectious Diseases Society Bioterrorism Subcommittee (MIDS). Both of these committees comprise experts from many different disciplines (public health, fire, police, HAZMAT). Dr. Cinti is also a member of the University of Michigan Disaster Committee that developed a hospital-wide plan for responding to a bioterrorism event. Currently, Dr. Cinti is co-chairman of the Region 2 South Communicable Diseases Planning Team (formerly the Smallpox Response Planning Team) and a member of the Region 2 South Advisory Committee. Dr. Cinti is the Director of the Michigan Biodefense Alert Listserv (MBAL) which was initially created with a grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH). MBAL, now located at the Michigan State Medical Society, is a clinician network that serves as a conduit of information on bioterrorism and emerging infections as well as a biosurveillance tool. Dr. Cinti disseminates postings over the listserv on topics relevant to the care of patients exposed to biological agents or emerging infections (SARS, WNV).

At the national level, Dr. Cinti sits on the Board of Directors of the National Center for Critical Incident Analysis (NCCIA). This group convenes a yearly session involving national experts in public health, medicine, public policy, the media, and law enforcement. These sessions explore ways that diverse groups can better respond to critical incidents. NCCIA has developed a model to explore critical incidents in a more systematic manner. This model will be published in the next year.

Dr. Cinti has experience in teaching and training groups to respond to bioterrorism. He has developed a one week course (Epidemiology 776) that is offered at the Summer Epidemiology Program at the University of Michigan. He has developed a similar course for the yearly Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) meeting. Also, Dr. Cinti teaches yearly bioterrorism classes to 1st and 2nd year medical and dental students. Dr Cinti has convened several bioterrorism response panels for environmental journalist conferences in New Orleans, LA and Lansing, MI.

HIV/AIDS

Dr. Cinti also participates in HIV/AIDS clinical research. He is site PI of a tri-national study involving the VA Medical system that is looking at structured treatment interruptions and mega-HAART regimens. He has published on the topic of adherence to antiretroviral regimens and recently completed a pilot study looking at automated telephone calls as a way of improving adherence to HIV antiretrovirals. Dr. Cinti is a member of the UM HIV/AIDS clinical team and he is the clinical lead of the HIV/AIDS clinic at the Ann Arbor VA which cares for 150 HIV patients.

Recent Publications

Cinti S, Sunstrom J, Saravolatz L, Blackburn G, Nofsiger D. Differentiating inhalational anthrax (IA) from other influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) in the setting of a national or regional anthrax outbreak”. Arch Int Med 2004

Upfal M, Cinti S. Adverse cardiac events following smallpox vaccination. MMWR 2004.

Cinti S, Chenoweth C, Monto AS. Preparing for pandemic influenza: should hospitals stockpile oseltamivir? Infect Contr Hosp Epid 26:852-854, 2005.

Popovich K, Malani PN, Kauffman CA, Cinti SK. Compliance with Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines for ophthalmologic evaluation of patients with candidemia. Infect Dis Clin Prac 15:254-256, 2007.

Cinti SK, Washer LL, Chenoweth CE. Clostridium difficile colitis: A reemerging threat. J Clin Outcomes Management 14 (9): 505-514, 2007.

Mody L, Cinti S. Pandemic influenza planning in nursing homes: Are we prepared? J Am Geriatr Soc 55 (9): 1431-1437, 2007.

Gandhi T, Nagappan V, Cinti S, Wei W, Kazanjian P. Long-term immunologic and virologic responses in patients with highly resistant HIV infection who are treated with an incompletely suppressive Antiretroviral regimen. Clin Infect Dis 45 (8): 1085-1092, 2007.

Cinti SK, Washer LL, Chenoweth CE. Clostridium difficile-associated disease. Infectious Diseases Board Review Manual. Hosp Phys 10 (3):1-12, 2007.

Abazeed ME, Cinti S. Rabies prophylaxis for pregnant women. (Letter) Emerg Infect Dis 13 (12): 1966-1967, 2007.

Cinti, SK; Gandhi, T; Riddell, J. Non-AIDS-defining cancers: Should antiretroviral therapy be initiated earlier? AIDS Read 18 (1): 18, 2008.