Marwan Mikheal Azar, MD
Biography
Marwan Azar, MD, is an infectious diseases specialist with a focus on infections in patients with compromised immune systems, including organ transplant recipients and oncology patients. He has particular expertise in fungal infections, which are more common among immuno-compromised individuals.
“When I was younger, I wanted to be a biologist, studying zoology and natural ecosystems,” Dr. Azar says. “But I decided to pursue medicine because of the huge and immediate positive impact that doctors have on people’s lives. Once in medicine, I pursued both Infectious diseases and clinical microbiology, two specialties that combined my interests in human and non-human (including microbe) biology.”
Dr. Azar says some of his greatest rewards come from caring for patients, especially since infectious diseases are often curable and good treatment can usually help a patient get through a serious infection. He also enjoys helping immuno-compromised patients who may be dealing with multiple medical problems. “This kind of work is truly gratifying,” he says.
In addition, Dr. Azar is a researcher who is working on evaluating the utility of new and emerging methods to diagnose infectious diseases faster and more accurately. He is heavily involved in Yale Medicine’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a member of a Yale New Haven Health Ad Hoc COVID Treatment Team, which is made up of a wide range of specialists who are constantly evaluating the best approaches to treating infected patients.
Titles
- Assistant Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases)
Education & Training
- Clinical Microbiology FellowshipMassachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University (2017)
- Infectious Diseases FellowshipYale University (2016)
- Internal Medicine ResidencyIndiana University (2014)
- Post-doctoral Research FellowshipYale University (2011)
- MDAmerican University of Beirut (2009)
- BSAmerican University of Beirut, Biology (2005)
Languages Spoken
- Arabic
- English
- French
- Spanish
Additional Information
- AB of Pathology, Medical Microbiology (2017)
- AB of Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease (2016)
- AB of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine (2014)
- CLSI (2020 - Present): Advisor
- Open Forum of Infectious Disase (2019 - Present): Reviewer
- IDSA (2018 - Present): Committee Member
- CLSI (2018 - Present): Committee Member
- ATS (2018 - Present): Committee Member
- AST (2018 - Present): Executive Board Member
- Laboratory Diagnostics (2017 - Present): Committee Member
- CT DPH (2017 - Present): Committee Member
- BMJ case reports (2017 - Present): Reviewer
- Transplantation (2017 - Present): Reviewer
- Turbett SE, Anahtar MN, Pattanayak V, Azar MM, Coffey KC, Eng G, Rudolf JW, Lewandrowski KB, Baron J, Rosenberg ES, Branda JA. Use of Routine Complete Blood Count Results to Rule Out Anaplasmosis Without the Need for Specific Diagnostic Testing. Clinical Infectious Diseases : An Official Publication Of The Infectious Diseases Society Of America 2020, 70:1215-1221.
- Azar MM, Slotkin R, Abi-Raad R, Liu Y, Grant MH, Malinis MF. Gomori Methenamine Silver Stain on Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Is Poorly Sensitive for Diagnosis of Pneumocystis jiroveci Pneumonia in HIV-Negative Immunocompromised Patients and May Lead to Missed or Delayed Diagnoses. Archives Of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine 2020.
- Azar MM, Muse VV, Villalba JA, Turbett SE. Case 2-2020: A 64-Year-Old Man with Fever and Respiratory Failure. The New England Journal Of Medicine 2020, 382:276-285.
- Azar MM, Gaston DC, Kotton CN, Malinis MF. Emerging Microbiology Diagnostics for Transplant Infections: On the Cusp of a Paradigm Shift. Transplantation 2020, 104:1358-1384.
- Azar MM, Loyd JL, Relich RF, Wheat LJ, Hage CA. Current Concepts in the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Histoplasmosis Syndromes. Seminars In Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine 2020, 41:13-30.
- Koff A, Azar MM. Diagnosing peritoneal tuberculosis. BMJ Case Reports 2020, 13.
- Shallis RM, Patel TH, Podoltsev NA, Xu ML, Azar MM, Gore SD. Disseminated, yet dissembled: Rare infections behind the veil of classical hairy cell leukemia. Leukemia Research 2020, 90:106315.
- Nussbaum EZ, Azar MM, Cohen E, McManus D, Topal JE, Malinis M. Orally Administered Human Immunoglobulin Therapy for Norovirus Enteritis in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Case Series at a Single Academic Transplant Center. Clinical Infectious Diseases : An Official Publication Of The Infectious Diseases Society Of America 2020, 71:e206-e209.
- Sarwar S, Koff A, Malinis M, Azar MM. Daptomycin perioperative prophylaxis for the prevention of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus infection in colonized liver transplant recipients. Transplant Infectious Disease : An Official Journal Of The Transplantation Society 2020, 22:e13280.
- Hanson KE, Azar MM, Banerjee R, Chou A, Colgrove RC, Ginocchio CC, Hayden MK, Holodiny M, Jain S, Koo S, Levy J, Timbrook TT, Caliendo AM. Molecular testing for acute respiratory tract infections: clinical and diagnostic recommendations from the IDSA's Diagnostics Committee. Clinical Infectious Diseases : An Official Publication Of The Infectious Diseases Society Of America 2020.
- Price CC, Altice FL, Shyr Y, Koff A, Pischel L, Goshua G, Azar MM, Mcmanus D, Chen SC, Gleeson SE, Britto CJ, Azmy V, Kaman K, Gaston DC, Davis M, Burrello T, Harris Z, Villanueva MS, Aoun-Barakat L, Kang I, Seropian S, Chupp G, Bucala R, Kaminski N, Lee AI, LoRusso PM, Topal JE, Dela Cruz C, Malinis M. Tocilizumab Treatment for Cytokine Release Syndrome in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: Survival and Clinical Outcomes. Chest 2020, 158:1397-1408.
- Azar MM, Malo J, Hage CA. Endemic Fungi Presenting as Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Review. Seminars In Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine 2020, 41:522-537.
- Kates OS, Haydel BM, Florman SS, Rana MM, Chaudhry ZS, Ramesh MS, Safa K, Kotton CN, Blumberg EA, Besharatian BD, Tanna SD, Ison MG, Malinis M, Azar MM, Rakita RM, Morillas JA, Majeed A, Sait AS, Spaggiari M, Hemmige V, Mehta SA, Neumann H, Badami A, Goldman JD, Lala A, Hemmersbach-Miller M, McCort ME, Bajrovic V, Ortiz-Bautista C, Friedman-Moraco R, Sehgal S, Lease ED, Fisher CE, Limaye AP. COVID-19 in solid organ transplant: A multi-center cohort study. Clinical Infectious Diseases : An Official Publication Of The Infectious Diseases Society Of America 2020.
- Azar MM, Canterino J, Landry ML. The Brief Case: Secondary Measles and the Pitfalls of Diagnostic Testing. Journal Of Clinical Microbiology 2020, 58.
- Azar MM, Canterino J, Landry ML. Closing the Brief Case: Secondary Measles and the Pitfalls of Diagnostic Testing. Journal Of Clinical Microbiology 2020, 58.
- Azar MM, Shin JJ, Kang I, Landry M. Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the setting of the cytokine release syndrome. Expert Review Of Molecular Diagnostics 2020, 20:1087-1097.
- Shallis RM, Gleeson S, Azar M, Malinis M, Xu ML, Seropian SE, Gowda L, Zeidan AM. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation and combination antiretroviral therapy: cautions, complications, and considerations. Leukemia & Lymphoma 2019, 60:2584-2587.
- Azar MM, Zhang X, Assi R, Hage C, Wheat LJ, Malinis MF. Clinical and epidemiological characterization of histoplasmosis cases in a nonendemic area, Connecticut, United States. Medical Mycology 2018, 56:896-899.
- Springer SA, Di Paola A, Azar M, Barbour R, Biondi BE, Desabrais M, Lincoln T, Skiest DJ, Altice FL. Extended-Release Naltrexone Improves Viral Suppression Among Incarcerated Persons Living With HIV With Opioid Use Disorders Transitioning to the Community: Results of a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial. Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (1999) 2018, 78:43-53.
- Hibbert KA, Shepard JO, Lane RJ, Azar MM. Case 1-2018. A 39-Year-Old Woman with Rapidly Progressive Respiratory Failure. The New England Journal Of Medicine 2018, 378:182-190.
- Azar MM, Landry ML. Detection of Influenza A and B Viruses and Respiratory Syncytial Virus by Use of Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA)-Waived Point-of-Care Assays: a Paradigm Shift to Molecular Tests. Journal Of Clinical Microbiology 2018, 56.
- Wheat J, Myint T, Guo Y, Kemmer P, Hage C, Terry C, Azar MM, Riddell J, Ender P, Chen S, Shehab K, Cleveland K, Esguerra E, Johnson J, Wright P, Douglas V, Vergidis P, Ooi W, Baddley J, Bamberger D, Khairy R, Vikram HR, Jenny-Avital E, Sivasubramanian G, Bowlware K, Pahud B, Sarria J, Tsai T, Assi M, Mocherla S, Prakash V, Allen D, Passaretti C, Huprikar S, Anderson A. Central nervous system histoplasmosis: Multicenter retrospective study on clinical features, diagnostic approach and outcome of treatment. Medicine 2018, 97:e0245.
- Springer SA, Di Paola A, Barbour R, Azar MM, Altice FL. Extended-release Naltrexone Improves Viral Suppression Among Incarcerated Persons Living with HIV and Alcohol use Disorders Transitioning to the Community: Results From a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (1999) 2018, 79:92-100.
- Azar MM, Malinis MF, Moss J, Formica RN, Villanueva MS. Integrase strand transferase inhibitors: the preferred antiretroviral regimen in HIV-positive renal transplantation. International Journal Of STD & AIDS 2017, 28:447-458.
- Bhattacharyya RP, Flores EJ, Azar MM. Case 30-2017. A 65-Year-Old Woman with Altered Mental Status, Bacteremia, and Acute Liver Failure. The New England Journal Of Medicine 2017, 377:1274-1282.
- Azar MM, Hage CA. Clinical Perspectives in the Diagnosis and Management of Histoplasmosis. Clinics In Chest Medicine 2017, 38:403-415.
- Letourneau AR, Price MC, Azar MM. Case 26-2017. The New England Journal Of Medicine 2017, 377:770-778.
- Azar MM, Turbett SE, Fishman JA, Pierce VM. Donor-Derived Transmission of Candida auris During Lung Transplantation. Clinical Infectious Diseases : An Official Publication Of The Infectious Diseases Society Of America 2017, 65:1040-1042.
- Azar MM, Assi R, Valika AK, Banach DB, Hall IE, Landry ML, Malinis MF. Graft loss among renal-transplant recipients with early reduction of immunosuppression for BK viremia. World Journal Of Transplantation 2017, 7:269-275.
- Azar MM, Hage CA. Laboratory Diagnostics for Histoplasmosis. Journal Of Clinical Microbiology 2017, 55:1612-1620.
- Lyons JL, Schaefer PW, Cho TA, Azar MM. Case 34-2017. A 76-Year-Old Man with Fever, Weight Loss, and Weakness. The New England Journal Of Medicine 2017, 377:1878-1886.
- Springer SA, Di Paola A, Azar MM, Barbour R, Krishnan A, Altice FL. Extended-release naltrexone reduces alcohol consumption among released prisoners with HIV disease as they transition to the community. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2017, 174:158-170.
- Baghban A, Azar MM, Bernardo RM, Malinis M. Disseminated Mycobacterium tuberculosis following renal transplant with alemtuzumab induction. BMJ Case Reports 2016, 2016.
- Wheat LJ, Azar MM, Bahr NC, Spec A, Relich RF, Hage C. Histoplasmosis. Infectious Disease Clinics Of North America 2016, 30:207-27.
- Azar MM, Assi R, Patel N, Malinis MF. Fungal Mycotic Aneurysm of the Internal Carotid Artery Associated with Sphenoid Sinusitis in an Immunocompromised Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Mycopathologia 2016, 181:425-33.
- Azar MM, Malinis MF. Disseminated Histoplasmosis with Skin Lesions and Osteomyelitis in a Patient from the Philippines. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2016, 95:70-4.
- Hage CA, Azar MM, Bahr N, Loyd J, Wheat LJ. Histoplasmosis: Up-to-Date Evidence-Based Approach to Diagnosis and Management. Seminars In Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine 2015, 36:729-45.
- Wickersham JA, Azar MM, Cannon CM, Altice FL, Springer SA. Validation of a Brief Measure of Opioid Dependence: The Rapid Opioid Dependence Screen (RODS). Journal Of Correctional Health Care : The Official Journal Of The National Commission On Correctional Health Care 2015, 21:12-26.
- Azar MM, Assi R, Relich RF, Schmitt BH, Norris S, Wheat LJ, Hage CA. Blastomycosis in Indiana: Clinical and Epidemiologic Patterns of Disease Gleaned from a Multicenter Retrospective Study. Chest 2015, 148:1276-1284.
- Howell BA, Azar MM, Landry ML, Shaw AC. Toscana virus encephalitis in a traveler returning to the United States. Journal Of Clinical Microbiology 2015, 53:1445-7.
- Vagenas P, Azar MM, Copenhaver MM, Springer SA, Molina PE, Altice FL. The Impact of Alcohol Use and Related Disorders on the HIV Continuum of Care: a Systematic Review : Alcohol and the HIV Continuum of Care. Current HIV/AIDS Reports 2015, 12:421-36.
- How J, Azar MM, Meyer JP. Are Nectarines to Blame? A Case Report and Literature Review of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Due to Listeria monocytogenes. Connecticut Medicine 2015, 79:31-6.
- Ermel A, Ramogola-Masire D, Zetola N, Tong Y, Qadadri B, Azar MM, Brown DR. Invasive cervical cancers from women living in the United States or Botswana: differences in human papillomavirus type distribution. Infectious Agents And Cancer 2014, 9:22.
- Azar MM, Relich RF, Schmitt BH, Spech RW, Hage CA. Cutaneous blastomycosis masquerading as pyoderma gangrenosum. Journal Of Clinical Microbiology 2014, 52:1298-300.
- Wickersham JA, Zahari MM, Azar MM, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Methadone dose at the time of release from prison significantly influences retention in treatment: implications from a pilot study of HIV-infected prisoners transitioning to the community in Malaysia. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2013, 132:378-82.
- Leathers CA, Azar MM, Badve SS, Roth TD, Loehrer PJ, Nelson RP. Opportunistic infections in a patient with HIV and thymoma. The Journal Of Allergy And Clinical Immunology. In Practice 2013, 1:413-5.
- Springer SA, Dushaj A, Azar MM. The impact of DSM-IV mental disorders on adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy among adult persons living with HIV/AIDS: a systematic review. AIDS And Behavior 2012, 16:2119-43.
- Springer SA, Azar MM, Altice FL. HIV, alcohol dependence, and the criminal justice system: a review and call for evidence-based treatment for released prisoners. The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 2011, 37:12-21.
- Azar MM, Springer SA, Meyer JP, Altice FL. A systematic review of the impact of alcohol use disorders on HIV treatment outcomes, adherence to antiretroviral therapy and health care utilization. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2010, 112:178-93.
- Gaston DC, Malinis M, Osborn R, Peaper DR, Landry M, Juthani-Mehta M, Azar MM. Clinical implications of SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold values in solid organ transplant recipients. American Journal Of Transplantation : Official Journal Of The American Society Of Transplantation And The American Society Of Transplant Surgeons 2020.
- Ringer M, Pischel L, Azar MM. Diagnosis of oesophageal mucormycosis managed with medical therapy alone. BMJ Case Reports 2020, 13.
- Trubin PA, Azar MM, Malinis M. Diagnostic Testing of COVID-19 in Solid Organ Transplantation: Current Clinical Application and Future Strategies. Current Transplantation Reports 2020, 1-9.
- Azar MM, Schlaberg R, Malinis MF, Bermejo S, Schwarz T, Xie H, Dela Cruz CS. Added Diagnostic Utility Of Clinical Metagenomics For The Diagnosis Of Pneumonia In Immunocompromised Adults. Chest 2020.
- Nussbaum EZ, Patel KK, Assi R, Raad RA, Malinis M, Azar MM. Clinicopathologic Features of Tissue Granulomas in Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Study in a Nontuberculosis Endemic Region. Archives Of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine 2020.
- Heldman MR, Kates OS, Haydel BM, Florman SS, Rana MM, Chaudhry ZS, Ramesh MS, Safa K, Kotton CN, Blumberg EA, Besharatian BD, Tanna SD, Ison MG, Malinis M, Azar MM, Rakita RM, Morillas JA, Majeed A, Sait AS, Spaggiari M, Hemmige V, Mehta SA, Neumann H, Badami A, Jeng A, Goldman JD, Lala A, Hemmersbach-Miller M, McCort ME, Bajrovic V, Ortiz-Bautista C, Friedman-Moraco R, Sehgal S, Lease ED, Limaye AP, Fisher CE. Healthcare resource use among solid organ transplant recipients hospitalized with COVID-19. Clinical Transplantation 2020, e14174.
- Ringer M, Azmy V, Kaman K, Tang D, Cheung H, Azar MM, Price C, Malinis M. A retrospective matched cohort single-center study evaluating outcomes of COVID-19 and the impact of immunomodulation on COVID-19-related cytokine release syndrome in solid organ transplant recipients. Transplant Infectious Disease : An Official Journal Of The Transplantation Society 2020, e13556.