Research and Profession Experience
As the Chief and Medical Director of the Microbiology Laboratory at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC), he has aggressively updated his micro-lab operations to comply with updated CLSI guidelines, including new holdpoints, and we recently passed CAP inspection with no deficiencies. Over the past two years, we have audited 9 FDA-approved tests and 2 platforms; he has authored 5 approved retrospective study protocols evaluating clinical practices and outcomes at their hospital to better inform clinical practice; they also have studies evaluating new diagnostic tests and platforms with commercial partners; he recently introduced a new health technology platform, TAMC FirstLine, to provide clinicians with guidance on antimicrobial stewardship (ASP).
• He is an active member of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPaC), ASP, and COVID-19 Ad Hoc committees, and is the Chair of the Blood Culture Contamination Committee (BCC) at TAMC. He led the collaboration between micro and IPaC using whole genome sequencing to monitor transmissions within their hospital and other military hospitals across the country, leading to the implementation of practices to mitigate transmission. He is involved in implementing COVID-19 testing decisions at the hospital based on CDC recommendations. Under his leadership, he has consistently maintained our BCC rates below 3%, and most importantly below 1%, through extensive training and engagement of clinicians and leaders at all levels of the hospital.
• He has served on numerous institutional committees, including the Clinical Trials Scientific Review Committee at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) from 2009 to 2020; member of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch Global Emerging Infections Surveillance Steering Committee from 2012 to present; Member of the Military Infectious Diseases Research Program Steering Committee, Program Area L (Diagnostic Systems) from 2009 to 2016; Scientific and Training Advisory Board, Leadership Excellence Development and Genetics Training for Malaria Elimination in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2015 to present.
• He was a member of the Evidence Review Group at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva in 2013. He participated in the drafting of the WHO policy on malaria diagnosis in low transmission settings.
Kamau is a member of the DELGEME Plus Training Advisory Board.