Robert M. Rakita, MD | Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Clinical Professor

Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy & Infectious Diseases

Sites of Practice:

University of Washington Medical Center

Faculty Information

Biography

Dr. Rakita is a member of the Solid Organ Transplant Infectious Disease group at the University of Washington. He is involved with the care of patients with a variety of organ transplants (heart, lung, kidney, liver, pancreas, intestine), and interacts with fellows and residents on both the SOT ID inpatient team and while attending on General Medicine. He is particularly interested in the use of vaccines to prevent infections in this patient population, transplantation in HIV positive patients, and infections in patients with ventricular assist devices.

Education & Training:

Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland OH

1979-1983

Residency in Internal Medicine

University of Washington

Seattle, Washington

1983-1986

Fellowship in Infectious Diseases

University of Washington

Seattle WA

1986-1990

Honors:

John Huff / Robert Hegstrom award, Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year, 2003, 2006

Mary McClinton Patient Safety Award, Surgical Site Infection Team

2009

Seattle Met, Top Doc

2012-2015

Seattle Magazine, Top Doc

2016

Contact

Email:

rakita@uw.edu

Phone:

(206) 598-9455

Mailing Address:

1959 NE Pacific St

Box 356175

Seattle, WA 98195

Research & Clinical Interests

Research Interests:

Clinical trials of new antimicrobials and new diagnostic methods
Natural history studies of infections in SOT

Clinical Interests:

Solid organ transplant ID
HIV, particularly transplants in HIV
Vaccines

Publications

PubMed:

PubMed Bibliography

Publications:

Hill, J.A., Mokadam, N.A., and Rakita, R.M. Intracranial mycotic aneurysm associated with left ventricular assist device infection. Ann Thorac Surg. 2014 Sep; 98(3):1088-9
• PubMed Abstract

Ramchandani, M.S., Rakita, R.M., Freeman, R.V., Levy, W.C., Von Homeyer, P., and Mokadam, N.A. Total artificial heart as bridge to transplantation for severe culture negative prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Gemella haemolysans. ASAIO J. 2014 Jul-Aug; 60(4):479-81.
• PubMed Abstract

Koval, C.E., Rakita RM, et al. Ventricular assist device-related infections and solid organ transplantation. Am J Transplant. 2013; 13:348-54.
• PubMed Abstract

Drozd, D.R., Limaye, A.P., Moss, R.B., Sanders, R., Hansen, C., Edelman, J.D., Raghu, G., Boeckh, M., and Rakita, R.M. DAS181 treatment of severe Parainfluenza type 3 pneumonia in a lung transplant recipient. Transplant Infect Dis. 2013; 15(1):E28-32.
• PubMed Abstract

Lopez de Castillla, D.,Rakita, R.M., Spitters, C.E., Narita, M., Jain, R., and Limaye, A.P. Short course isoniazid plus rifapentine directly observed therapy for latent tuberculosis in solid-organ transplant candidates. (2013) Transplantation 97(2):206-211. JAMA. 2010; 304(16):1786.
• PubMed Abstract

Rakita RM, Hagar BA, Crome P, Lammert JK. Mandatory influenza vaccination of healthcare workers: a 5-year study. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2010; 31(9):881-8.
• PubMed Abstract