Michael Woodworth

Department of Medicine
Associate Professor

Overview

My primary research interest is translational and clinical investigation of microbial therapeutics. My current projects are focused on use of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to eradicate multidrug resistant organism (MDRO) colonization, use of next-generation sequencing analyses to query mechanisms of action of FMT, and leveraging population-level datasets to study risk factors and outcomes for infection with MDROs.

Academic Appointment

Associate Professor of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine

Education

Degrees

MD from Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
MSc from Laney Graduate School, Emory University
BS from Emory University

Research

Focus

Antimicrobial Resistance and the Human Gut Microbiome
My research is focused on translational investigation of microbial therapeutics. We conduct clinical trials of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to treat multidrug resistant organism (MDRO) colonization and use metagenomic approaches to identify potential mechanisms of action of FMT. We also leverage population-level datasets to study clinical outcomes for MDRO infections.

Publications

Leveraging strain competition to address antimicrobial resistance with microbiota therapies.
Gut Microbes Volume: 17 Page(s): 2488046
12/01/2025 Authors: Barrios Steed D; Koundakjian D; Harris AD; Rosato AE; Konstantinidis KT; Woodworth MH
Fgl2 regulates FcRIIB+CD8+ T cell responses during infection.
JCI Insight Volume: 10
04/08/2025 Authors: Morris AB; Adelman MW; Bennion KB; Martinez CD; McCook K-M; Woodworth MH; Langelier CR; Rouphael N; Scharer CD; Maier CL
Reply to Olle et al.
J Infect Dis Volume: 231 Page(s): 545
02/20/2025 Authors: Kelly BJ; Kwon JH; Woodworth MH
A theoretical exploration of protocols for treating prosthetic joint infections with combinations of antibiotics and bacteriophage.
bioRxiv
02/16/2025 Authors: Levin BR; Gil-Gil T; Berryhill BA; Woodworth MH
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae bacteremia treated with linezolid.
J Infect Chemother Volume: 31 Page(s): 102510
02/01/2025 Authors: Berman A; Opara SCO; Wang YF; Woodworth MH; Steed DB
Impact of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infections on the gut microbiome and antimicrobial resistome.
Nat Med Volume: 31 Page(s): 207 - 217
01/01/2025 Authors: Chu VT; Glascock A; Donnell D; Grabow C; Brown CE; Ward R; Love C; Kalantar KL; Cohen SE; Cannon C
Evaluating Real-World Experience With Maribavir for Treatment of Refractory/Resistant Cytomegalovirus in Renal Transplant Recipients.
Clin Transplant Volume: 38 Page(s): e15480
10/01/2024 Authors: Beechar VB; Phadke VK; Pouch SM; Mehta AK; Karadkhele G; Larsen CP; Woodworth MH
The Role of the Gut, Urine, and Vaginal Microbiomes in the Pathogenesis of Urinary Tract Infection in Women and Consideration of Microbiome Therapeutics.
Open Forum Infect Dis Volume: 11 Page(s): ofae471
09/01/2024 Authors: Naji A; Siskin D; Woodworth MH; Lee JR; Kraft CS; Mehta N
Escape Velocity-the Launch of Microbiome Therapies.
J Infect Dis Volume: 230 Page(s): 2 - 4
07/25/2024 Authors: Kelly BJ; Kwon JH; Woodworth MH
Enteric Populations of Escherichia coli are Likely to be Resistant to Phages Due to O Antigen Expression.
bioRxiv
07/02/2024 Authors: Berryhill BA; Burke KB; Fontaine J; Brink CE; Harvill MG; Goldberg DA; Konstantinidis KT; Levin BR; Woodworth MH
Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection and Outcome of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Use: A Population-Based Assessment.
Open Forum Infect Dis Volume: 11 Page(s): ofae309
07/01/2024 Authors: Mehta N; Goodenough D; Gupta NK; Thomas S; Mehta C; Prakash R; Woodworth MH; Kraft CS; Fridkin SK
Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infections impacts the gut antimicrobial resistome.
Res Sq
04/17/2024 Authors: Langelier C; Chu V; Glascock A; Donnell D; Grabow C; Brown C; Ward R; Love C; Kalantar K; Cohen S
Advancing cytomegalovirus prevention in solid organ transplant recipients: The promise of cell-mediated immune assays.
Transpl Infect Dis Volume: 26 Page(s): e14245
04/01/2024 Authors: Beechar VB; Phadke VK; Pouch SM; Woodworth MH
Escape Velocity - The Launch of Microbiome Therapies.
J Infect Dis Volume: 230 Page(s): 2 - 4
03/06/2024 Authors: Kelly BJ; Kwon JH; Woodworth MH
The Burden and Impact of Early Post-transplant Multidrug-Resistant Organism Detection Among Renal Transplant Recipients, 2005-2021.
Open Forum Infect Dis Volume: 11 Page(s): ofae060
03/01/2024 Authors: Babiker A; Karadkhele G; Bombin A; Watkins R; Robichaux C; Smith G; Beechar VB; Steed DB; Jacob JT; Read TD
Impact of an ultrasensitive Cytomegalovirus quantitative nucleic acid test on Cytomegalovirus detection and therapy in renal transplant recipients.
Transpl Infect Dis Volume: 26 Page(s): e14219
02/01/2024 Authors: Beechar VB; Pouch SM; Phadke VK; Karadkhele G; Larsen CP; Woodworth MH
Fecal microbiota transplantation promotes reduction of antimicrobial resistance by strain replacement.
Sci Transl Med Volume: 15 Page(s): eabo2750
11/01/2023 Authors: Woodworth MH; Conrad RE; Haldopoulos M; Pouch SM; Babiker A; Mehta AK; Sitchenko KL; Wang CH; Strudwick A; Ingersoll JM
Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis associated with bartonella peliosis hepatis following kidney transplantation in a patient with HIV.
Lancet Infect Dis Volume: 22 Page(s): e303 - e309
10/01/2022 Authors: Steed D; Collins J; Farris AB; Guarner J; Yarar D; Friedman-Moraco R; Doane T; Pouch S; Marshall Lyon G; Woodworth MH
Clinical and Genomic Epidemiology of mcr-9-Carrying Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales Isolates in Metropolitan Atlanta, 2012 to 2017.
Microbiol Spectr Volume: 10 Page(s): e0252221
08/31/2022 Authors: Babiker A; Bower C; Lutgring JD; Petit RA; Howard-Anderson J; Ansari U; McAllister G; Adamczyk M; Breaker E; Satola SW
Antibiotic Administration and Outcomes in Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients
Volume: 205
05/01/2022 Authors: Mendpara R; Yang P; Kempker R; Rebolledo P; Rollin F; Gurbani S; Schechter M; Wilhoite D; Bogard S; Duggal A
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Donor Screening Updates and Research Gaps for Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.
J Clin Microbiol Volume: 60 Page(s): e0016121
02/16/2022 Authors: Mehta N; Wang T; Friedman-Moraco RJ; Carpentieri C; Mehta AK; Rouphael N; Dhere T; Larsen CP; Kraft CS; Woodworth MH
Microbial metabolite delta-valerobetaine is a diet-dependent obesogen.
Nat Metab Volume: 3 Page(s): 1694 - 1705
12/01/2021 Authors: Liu KH; Owens JA; Saeedi B; Cohen CE; Bellissimo MP; Naudin C; Darby T; Druzak S; Maner-Smith K; Orr M
Large scale enzyme based xenobiotic identification for exposomics.
Nat Commun Volume: 12 Page(s): 5418
09/14/2021 Authors: Liu KH; Lee CM; Singer G; Bais P; Castellanos F; Woodworth MH; Ziegler TR; Kraft CS; Miller GW; Li S
Secondary Bacterial Pneumonias and Bloodstream Infections in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19.
Ann Am Thorac Soc Volume: 18 Page(s): 1584 - 1587
09/01/2021 Authors: Adelman MW; Bhamidipati DR; Hernandez-Romieu AC; Babiker A; Woodworth MH; Robichaux C; Murphy DJ; Auld SC; Kraft CS; Jacob JT
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Is Safe and Effective in Patients With Clostridioides difficile Infection and Cirrhosis.
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol Volume: 19 Page(s): 1627 - 1634
08/01/2021 Authors: Cheng Y-W; Alhaffar D; Saha S; Khanna S; Bohm M; Phelps E; Ghabril M; Orman E; Sashidhar S; Rogers N
Changes in treatment of community-onset Clostridioides difficile infection after release of updated guidelines, Atlanta, Georgia, 2018.
Anaerobe Volume: 70 Page(s): 102364
08/01/2021 Authors: Adelman MW; Goodenough D; Sefton S; Mackey C; Thomas S; Fridkin SK; Woodworth MH
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of toxoplasmosis among transplant recipients at two US academic medical centers.
Transpl Infect Dis Volume: 23 Page(s): e13636
08/01/2021 Authors: Adekunle RO; Sherman A; Spicer JO; Messina JA; Steinbrink JM; Sexton ME; Lyon GM; Mehta AK; Phadke VK; Woodworth MH
Earlier use of fecal transplant administration during hospitalization for Clostridioides difficile infectionmay improve outcome.
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol Volume: 33 Page(s): 1132 - 1133
08/01/2021 Authors: Dhere T; Tager D; Kilakkathi SP; Woodworth MH; Kraft CS
Current Capabilities of Gut Microbiome-Based Diagnostics and the Promise of Clinical Application.
J Infect Dis Volume: 223 Page(s): S270 - S275
06/16/2021 Authors: Damhorst GL; Adelman MW; Woodworth MH; Kraft CS
Validation of High-Sensitivity Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Testing for Stool-Toward the New Normal for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.
Clin Transl Gastroenterol Volume: 12 Page(s): e00363
06/09/2021 Authors: Babiker A; Ingersoll JM; Adelman MW; Webster AS; Broder KJ; Stittleburg V; Waggoner JJ; Kraft CS; Woodworth MH
An Ounce of Prevention Is Equivalent to How Much Decolonization Exactly?
Clin Infect Dis Volume: 72 Page(s): e924
06/01/2021 Authors: Woodworth MH; Kwon JH; Kraft CS
An Ounce of Prevention Is Equivalent to How Much Decolonization Exactly?
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES Volume: 72 Page(s): E936 - E936
06/01/2021 Authors: Woodworth MH; Kwon JH; Kraft CS
Critical Care Management of the Patient with Clostridioides difficile.
Crit Care Med Volume: 49 Page(s): 127 - 139
01/01/2021 Authors: Adelman MW; Woodworth MH; Shaffer VO; Martin GS; Kraft CS
Gram-Negative Taxa and Antimicrobial Susceptibility after Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection.
mSphere Volume: 5
10/14/2020 Authors: Steed DB; Wang T; Raheja D; Waldman AD; Babiker A; Dhere T; Kraft CS; Woodworth MH
Antimicrobial Bacteria and Viruses Detected Through Systematic Sampling in the Childcare Environment
Volume: 41 Page(s): S461 - S462
10/01/2020 Authors: Goodenough D; Mackey C; Woodworth M; Adelman M; Fridkin S
Are Patients Preferentially Receiving Oral Vancomycin for Clostridioides difficile Infection in 2018? A Population Perspective
Volume: 41 Page(s): S461 - S462
10/01/2020 Authors: Goodenough D; Mackey C; Woodworth M; Adelman M; Fridkin S
mSphere of Influence: Microbiome-Associated Phenotypes Are Modifiable.
mSphere Volume: 5
07/01/2020 Authors: Woodworth MH
The gut microbiome's role in the development, maintenance, and outcomes of sepsis.
Crit Care Volume: 24 Page(s): 278
06/01/2020 Authors: Adelman MW; Woodworth MH; Langelier C; Busch LM; Kempker JA; Kraft CS; Martin GS
OUTCOMES OF INPATIENT FECAL TRANSPLANT ADMINISTRATION FOR CLOSTRIDIODES DIFFICILE INFECTION (CDI)
Volume: 158 Page(s): S989 - S989
05/01/2020 Authors: Kilakkathi S; Tager D; Woodworth MH; Kraft C; Dhere TA
Improving the Infectious Diseases Physician Scientist Workforce From the View of Junior Investigators: Vision, Transparency, and Reproducibility.
Clin Infect Dis Volume: 70 Page(s): 162 - 168
01/01/2020 Authors: Collins JM; Wallender EK; Woodworth MH
Corrigendum: The Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Reducing Intestinal Colonization With Antibiotic-Resistant Organisms: The Current Landscape and Future Directions.
Open Forum Infect Dis Volume: 6 Page(s): ofz391
10/01/2019 Authors: Woodworth MH; Hayden MK; Young VB; Kwon JH
The Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Reducing Intestinal Colonization With Antibiotic-Resistant Organisms: The Current Landscape and Future Directions.
Open Forum Infect Dis Volume: 6
07/01/2019 Authors: Woodworth MH; Hayden MK; Young VB; Kwon JH
Sentinel Case of Candida auris in the Western United States Following Prolonged Occult Colonization in a Returned Traveler from India.
Microb Drug Resist Volume: 25 Page(s): 677 - 680
06/01/2019 Authors: Woodworth MH; Dynerman D; Crawford ED; Doernberg SB; Ramirez-Avila L; Serpa PH; Nichols A; Li LM; Lyden A; Tato CM
FECAL MICROBIOTA TRANSPLANTATION IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR THE TREATMENT OF CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS
Volume: 156 Page(s): S898 - S899
05/01/2019 Authors: Cheng Y-W; Alhaffar D; Saha S; Khanna S; Bohm M; Phelps E; Ghabril MS; Orman E; Sagi S; Xu H
DIFFERENCES AMONG LUMINAL AND MUCOSAL MICROBIOTA AMONG FECAL MICROBIOTA TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS
Volume: 156 Page(s): S1150 - S1151
05/01/2019 Authors: Haydek JP; Rishishwar L; Chande AT; Jordan IK; de Man TJ; Neish E; Ward A; Woodworth MH; Neish AS; Dhere TA
Bergeyella cardium: Clinical Characteristics and Draft Genome of an Emerging Pathogen in Native and Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis.
Open Forum Infect Dis Volume: 6 Page(s): ofz134
04/01/2019 Authors: Mulliken JS; Langelier C; Budak JZ; Miller S; Dynerman D; Hao S; Li LM; Crawford E; Lyden A; Woodworth MH
Fecal microbiota transplantation for the treatment of recurrent and severe Clostridium difficile infection in solid organ transplant recipients: A multicenter experience.
Am J Transplant Volume: 19 Page(s): 501 - 511
02/01/2019 Authors: Cheng Y-W; Phelps E; Ganapini V; Khan N; Ouyang F; Xu H; Khanna S; Tariq R; Friedman-Moraco RJ; Woodworth MH
The Use of Microbiome Restoration Therapeutics to Eliminate Intestinal Colonization With Multidrug-Resistant Organisms.
Am J Med Sci Volume: 356 Page(s): 433 - 440
11/01/2018 Authors: Gopalsamy SN; Woodworth MH; Wang T; Carpentieri CT; Mehta N; Friedman-Moraco RJ; Mehta AK; Larsen CP; Kraft CS
Nocardia infections in the transplanted host.
Transpl Infect Dis Volume: 20 Page(s): e12902
08/01/2018 Authors: Hemmersbach-Miller M; Stout JE; Woodworth MH; Cox GM; Saullo JL
Durability and Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Fecal Microbiota Transplant Treatment in Patients With Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection.
Clin Infect Dis Volume: 66 Page(s): 1705 - 1711
05/17/2018 Authors: Mamo Y; Woodworth MH; Wang T; Dhere T; Kraft CS
FECAL MICROBIOTA TRANSPLANTATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION IS EFFICACIOUS AND SAFE IN SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS
Volume: 154 Page(s): S1044 - S1044
05/01/2018 Authors: Cheng Y-W; Phelps EL; Ganipini V; Khan N; Ouyang F; Khanna S; Tariq R; Friedman-Moraco R; Woodworth MH; Kraft C
Tacrolimus concentration to dose ratio in solid organ transplant patients treated with fecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection.
Transpl Infect Dis Volume: 20 Page(s): e12857
04/01/2018 Authors: Woodworth MH; Kraft CS; Meredith EJ; Mehta AK; Wang T; Mamo YT; Dhere T; Sitchenko KL; Patzer RE; Friedman-Moraco RJ
Fecal Microbiota Transplant for Multidrug-Resistant Organism Decolonization Administered During Septic Shock.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Volume: 39 Page(s): 490 - 492
04/01/2018 Authors: Gopalsamy SN; Sherman A; Woodworth MH; Lutgring JD; Kraft CS
Fecal Microbiota Transplant for Refractory Clostridium difficile Infection Interrupts 25-Year History of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections.
Open Forum Infect Dis Volume: 5 Page(s): ofy016
02/01/2018 Authors: Wang T; Kraft CS; Woodworth MH; Dhere T; Eaton ME
Ethical Considerations in Microbial Therapeutic Clinical Trials.
New Bioeth Volume: 23 Page(s): 210 - 218
11/01/2017 Authors: Woodworth MH; Sitchenko KL; Carpentieri C; Friedman-Moraco RJ; Wang T; Kraft CS
Challenges in fecal donor selection and screening for fecal microbiota transplantation: A review.
Gut Microbes Volume: 8 Page(s): 225 - 237
05/04/2017 Authors: Woodworth MH; Carpentieri C; Sitchenko KL; Kraft CS
Laboratory Testing of Donors and Stool Samples for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection.
J Clin Microbiol Volume: 55 Page(s): 1002 - 1010
04/01/2017 Authors: Woodworth MH; Neish EM; Miller NS; Dhere T; Burd EM; Carpentieri C; Sitchenko KL; Kraft CS
Increasing Nocardia Incidence Associated with Bronchiectasis at a Tertiary Care Center.
Ann Am Thorac Soc Volume: 14 Page(s): 347 - 354
03/01/2017 Authors: Woodworth MH; Saullo JL; Lantos PM; Cox GM; Stout JE
Disabling Dactylitis and Tenosynovitis Due to Mycobacterium haemophilum in a Patient With Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Open Forum Infect Dis Volume: 4 Page(s): ofx165
01/01/2017 Authors: Woodworth MH; Marquez C; Chambers H; Luetkemeyer A
Diagnostic Importance of Hyphae on Heart Valve Tissue in Histoplasma Endocarditis and Treatment With Isavuconazole.
Open Forum Infect Dis Volume: 4 Page(s): ofx241
01/01/2017 Authors: Wiley Z; Woodworth MH; Jacob JT; Lockhart SR; Rouphael NG; Gullett JC; Guarner J; Workowski K
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Considerations for Oncology Patients With Clostridium difficile Infection.
J Oncol Pract Volume: 13 Page(s): 31 - 32
01/01/2017 Authors: Woodworth MH; Kraft CS
Predictors of disease severity in patients admitted to a cholera treatment center in urban Haiti.
Am J Trop Med Hyg Volume: 89 Page(s): 625 - 632
10/01/2013 Authors: Valcin C-L; Severe K; Riche CT; Anglade BS; Moise CG; Woodworth M; Charles M; Li Z; Joseph P; Pape JW
The design of a medical school social justice curriculum.
Acad Med Volume: 88 Page(s): 1442 - 1449
10/01/2013 Authors: Coria A; McKelvey TG; Charlton P; Woodworth M; Lahey T
Abnormal lipid metabolism in patients with PTSD identified in a general medical clinic
Volume: 63 Page(s): 179S - 179S
04/01/2008 Authors: Weiss TE; Gillespie CF; Jones H; Schwartz A; Woodworth M; Umpierrez G; Cubells JF; Bradley RG; Ressler KJ

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