Kevin J. Downes, MD
Areas of expertise: Adverse effects of antimicrobial use in children, Acute kidney injury, Management and treatment of common pediatric infectious diseases, Antimicrobial clinical pharmacology, Management and treatment of infectious diseases in solid organ transplant recipients
Locations: Main Building
About Kevin J. Downes, MD
Kevin Downes, MD, is an attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), a core faculty member of the Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness (CPCE), a faculty member of the Center for Clinical Pharmacology, and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Downes attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. He then completed a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He also completed T32 training in Pediatric Clinical and Developmental Pharmacology while at Cincinnati Children’s. He joined Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in January 2015, where he attends on both the General and Immune Compromised Infectious Diseases services as well as in the Pediatric Infectious Diseases outpatient clinic.
Dr. Downes’ research focuses on antibiotic stewardship in children, antimicrobial pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), and antibiotic-associated acute kidney injury. Dr. Downes has particular interests in individualized dose optimization of antimicrobials in pediatric patients and examining the roles of biomarkers in the management of children with infectious diseases. He is the recipient of a K23 Career Development Award from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health that is investigating approaches to optimize vancomycin therapy in critically ill children. Dr. Downes is also involved in the conduct of several clinical trials and observational studies at CHOP.
Titles
Attending Physician, Division of Infectious Diseases
Assistant Professors of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Certifications
Pediatric Infectious Diseases – American Board of Pediatrics
Pediatrics – American Board of Pediatrics
Awards and Honors
2017, Finalist, Society for Pediatric Research Physician Scientist Award
2014, IDWeek 2014 Trainee Travel Grant, IDWeek 2014, Philadelphia PA
2014, Award for Excellence in Teamwork in Quality Improvement, Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM)
2012-2014, Thrasher Research Fund Early Career Award Program
2008, Herbert and Faye Moskowitz Prize for Clinical Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
2008, Max Kade Fellowship, American Austrian Foundation, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
2007, Society for Pediatric Research Medical Student Research Award, Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting, Toronto, ON
2006-2007, Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
2004, Center for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
2001, Magna cum laude, Amherst College, Amherst, MA
2000, NCAA Division III Baseball All-America, 2nd Team
Leadership and Memberships
Memberships in Professional Organizations
International
2019-present, American College of Clinical Pharmacology
2017-present, International Association of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology
National
2019-present, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
- 2019-present, Transplant Working Group
2011-present, Infectious Diseases Society of America
2009-present, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
2008-present, American Academy of Pediatrics
- 2017-present, PREP Infectious Diseases, Editorial board
Editorial and Academic Positions
Editorial Positions
Peer Reviewer
2018-present, Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management
2017-present, Clinical Pharmacokinetics
2016-present, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
2016-present, Pediatric Research
2013-present, Pediatrics
2013-present, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal
2012-present, Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Academic and Institutional Committees
2018-present, Lead, Solid Organ Transplant Infectious Diseases working group
2016-present, Acute Kidney Injury Working Group
2015-present, Faculty Member, Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness
2015-present, Faculty Member, Center for Clinical Pharmacology
2015-present, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee
Education & training
Medical Degree
MD - University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Internship
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Residency
Pediatrics - Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Fellowship
Pediatric Infectious Diseases - Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
T32 Training Program in Pediatric Developmental and Clinical Pharmacology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Additional Training
Training Program in Pediatric Developmental and Clinical Pharmacology - Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Publications
Publications
2019
Weiss SL, Balamuth F, Thurm CW, Downes KJ, Fitzgerald JC, Laskin BL: Major Adverse Kidney Events in Pediatric Sepsis. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 14(5): 664-672, May 7 2019.
Pais GM, Avedissian SN, O'Donnell JN, Rhodes NJ, Lodise TP, Prozialeck WC, Lamar PC, Cluff C, Gulati A, Fitzgerald JC, Downes KJ, Zuppa AF, Scheetz MH.: Comparative performance of urinary biomarkers for vancomycin induced kidney injury according to timeline of injury. Antimicrob Agents Chemother Apr 15 2019 Notes: [Epub ahead of print]
Fitzgerald JC, Zane NR, Himebauch AS, Reedy MD, Downes KJ, Topjian AA, Furth SL, Thomas NJ, Scheetz MH, Zuppa AF: Vancomycin Prescribing and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Children With and Without Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Arrest. Paediatr Drugs Mar 12 2019.
Hornik CP, Atz AM, Bendel C, Chan F, Downes K, Grundmeier R, Fogel B, Gipson D, Laughon M, Miller M, Smith M, Livingston C, Kluchar C, Heath A, Jarrett C, McKerlie B, Patel H, Hunter C: Creation of a Multicenter Pediatric Inpatient Data Repository Derived From Electronic Health Records. Appl Clin Inform. 2019 Mar;10(2):307-315. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1688477. Epub 2019 May 8.
2018
Lavigne S, Fisher BT, Ellis D, Zaoutis TE, Downes KJ: Posaconazole Administration in Hospitalized Children in the United States. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc Nov 18 2018 Notes: Epub ahead of print.
Downes KJ, Ellis D, Lavigne S, Bryan M, Zaoutis TE, Fisher BT.: The use of echinocandins in hospitalized children in the United States. Med Mycol Sep 2018.
Spyridakis E, Gerber JS, Schriver E, Grundmeier RW, Porsch EA, St Geme JW 3rd, Downes KJ: Clinical Features and Outcomes of Culture-Negative Septic Arthritis in Children. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2018 Apr 30. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piy034. [Epub ahead of print]
2017
Downes KJ, Cowden C, Laskin BL, Huang YS, Gong W, Bryan M, Fisher BT, Goldstein SL, Zaoutis TE: Association of Acute Kidney Injury With Concomitant Vancomycin and Piperacillin/Tazobactam Treatment Among Hospitalized Children. JAMA Pediatr 171(12): e173219, Dec 4 2017.
Downes KJ, Weiss SL, Gerber JS, Klieger SB, Fitzgerald JC, Balamuth F, Kubis SE, Tolomeo P, Bilker WB, Han X, Nachamkin I, Garrigan C, Han JH, Lautenbach E, Coffin SE, for the CDC Prevention Epicenters Program. : A Pragmatic Biomarker-Driven Algorithm to Guide Antibiotic Use in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: the Optimizing Antibiotic Strategies in Sepsis (OASIS) Study. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 6(2): 134-141, Jun 2017.
Downes KJ, Dong M, Fukuda T, Clancy JP, Haffner C, Bennett MR, Vinks AA, Goldstein SL: Urinary Kidney Injury Biomarkers and Tobramycin Clearance among Children and Young Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: a Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis. J Antimicrob Chemother 72(1): 254-260, Jan 2017.
2016
Downes KJ, Abulebda K, Siracusa C, Moore R, Staat MA, Poynter SE: Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae purulent pericarditis in a child with cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Int 58(7): 607-9, July 2016.
2015
Downes Kevin J, Patil Neha R, Rao Marepalli B, Koralkar Rajesh, Harris William T, Clancy John P, Goldstein Stuart L, Askenazi David J: Risk factors for acute kidney injury during aminoglycoside therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Nephrol 30(10): 1879-88, Oct 2015.
Zackoff M, Goodwin E, Arroyo M, Downes K, Unaka N: Revisiting the history: Hypereosinophilia in a 4-year-old with purpura. Hosp Pediatr 5(7): 339-402, Jul 2015.
2014
Downes KJ, Rao MB, Kahill L, Nguyen H, Clancy JP, Goldstein SL: Daily serum creatinine monitoring promotes earlier detection of acute kidney injury in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros 13(4): 435-41, July 2014.
Teran CG, Downes K, Medows M: Fatal Bipolaris spicifera infection in an immunosuppressed child BMJ Case Rep 3(1): doi:10.1136, Feb 2014 Notes: Epub only.
2012
Downes KJ, Narendran V, Meinzen-Derr J, McClanahan S, Akinbi HA: The lost art of intubation: assessing reduced opportunities for residents to perform neonatal intubation J Perinatol 32((12)): 927 - 32, Dec 2012.
Downes KJ, Tagher RJ, Johnson ND, Brady RC: Fever and upper back pain in a 15 year-old boy Pediatr Infect Dis J 881((8)): 886 - 7, Aug. 31 2012.
Farrell C, Rubin DM, Downes K, Dormans J, Christian CW: Symptoms and time to medical care in children with accidental extremity fractures. Pediatrics 129((1)): e128 - 33, Jan 2012.
2009
Kresnicka LS, Rubin DM, Downes KJ, Lavelle JM, Hodinka RL, McGowan KL, Grundmeier R, Christian CW: Practice variation in screening for sexually transmitted infections with nucleic acid amplification tests during prepubertal sexual abuse evaluations. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 22((5)): 292-9, Oct 2009.
2008
Rubin DM, Downes KJ, O'Reilly AL, Mekonnen R, Luan X, Localio AR: The impact of kinship care on behavioral well-being for children in out-of-home care. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 162((6)): 550-6, Jun 2008.
Downes KJ, Metlay JP, Bell LM, McGowan KL, Elliott MR, Shah SS: Polymicrobial bloodstream infections among children and adolescents with central venous catheters evaluated in ambulatory care. Clin Infect Dis 46((3)): 387-94, Feb 1 2008.
Shah SS, Downes KJ, Elliott MR, Bell LM, McGowan KL, Metlay JP: How long does it take to "rule out" bacteremia in children with central venous catheters? Pediatrics 121((1)): 135-41, Jan 2008.
2005
Downes KJ, Glatt BS, Kanchwala SK, Mick R, Fraker DL, Fox KR, Solin LJ, Bucky LP, Czerniecki BJ: Skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction is an acceptable treatment option for patients with high-risk breast carcinoma. Cancer 103((5)): 906-13, Mar 1 2005.
Abstracts (includes Posters and Scientific Presentations)
2017
Downes KJ, Schriver E, Russo M, Weiss SL, Fitzgerald JC, Balamuth F, Tolomeo P, Bilker WB, Han JH, Lautenbach E, Coffin SE, Gerber JS, for the CDC Prevention Epicenters Program.: Implementation of a Pragmatic Biomarker-Driven Algorithm to Guide Antibiotic Use in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: the Optimizing Antibiotic Strategies in Sepsis (OASIS) II Study. IDWeek 2017, San Diego, CA Oct 2017 Notes: Poster presentation.
Calhoun S, Ellis D, Fisher BT, Zaoutis TE, Downes KJ.: The Use of Posaconazole in Hospitalized Children in the United States. American Society for Microbiology 2017, Boston, MA Jun 2017 Notes: Poster presentation.
2016
Spyridakis E, Anatale-Tardiff L, Gerber JS, Frosch AB, St. Geme JW, Porsch EA, Downes KJ: Culture-Negative Septic Arthritis in Children. IDWeek 2016, New Orleans, LA Oct 2016 Notes: Poster presentation.
Lectures by Invitation
2018
Downes KJ. "Antibiotic Prescribing and Stewardship in Pediatrics: Why Every Decision Matters", 19th Annual CHOP APP Conference: Global Approach to Pediatric Healthcare - Primary, Acute and Behavioral Health; Philadelphia, PA. Jun, 2018.
Downes KJ. "Development of an Electronic Health Record Derived Multicenter Inpatient Pediatric Data Repository" (co-author), Pediatric Academic Societies, Toronto, ON. Apr, 2018.
Downes KJ. "Tick-borne infections," Pediatrics Residency Noon Conference, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, PA. Apr, 2018.
2017
Downes KJ. "Congenital CMV: Guidance and Gaps", Pediatric Grand Rounds, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, PA. May, 2017.
2016
Downes KJ. "CMV in Mothers & Infants: What Do We Really Know?", Einstein Ob/Gyn Grand Rounds, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Oct, 2016.
Downes KJ. "Antibiotic-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitalized Children", IDWeek 2016, New Orleans, LA. Oct, 2016.
2015
Downes KJ. "Developing a Biomarker-Driven Algorithm to Improve Antibiotic Use in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: the Optimizing Antibiotic Strategies in Sepsis (OASIS) Study", IDWeek 2015, San Diego, CA. Oct, 2015.
Downes KJ. "Antimicrobial Stewardship in Neonatology: How Have We Progressed?", 11th Annual Advances in Neonatal-Perinatal Care Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Oct, 2015.
Editorials, Reviews, Chapters
2019
Downes KJ: Brucella. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Robert M. Kliegman, Joseph W. St. Geme, III (eds.). Elsevier, 1, 2019.
Downes KJ: Tularemia (Francisella tularensis). Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Robert M. Kliegman, Joseph W. St. Geme, III (eds.). Elsevier, 1, 2019.
2018
Downes KJ, Danziger-Isakov LA: Infections in Special Hosts. Comprehensive Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Second Edition. Zaoutis LB, Chiang VW (eds.). McGraw-Hill Publishing, 2018.
Downes KJ: Tularemia (Francisella tularensis). Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Robert M. Kliegman, Joseph W. St. Geme, III (eds.). Elsevier, 2018.
Downes KJ: Brucella. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Robert M. Kliegman, Joseph W. St. Geme, III (eds.). Elsevier, 2018.
2016
Porsch EA, Downes KJ: Carriage and Transmission of Kingella kingae. Advances in Understanding Kingella kingae. Joseph W. St. Geme, III (eds.). Springer Briefs in Immunology, 2016.
Downes KJ, Goldstein SL: Biomarkers of Kidney Injury in Cystic Fibrosis. Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Patel VB, Preedy VR (eds.). Springer, 2016.
Downes KJ: Epidemiology and Clinical Manifestations of Kingella kingae Disease. Advances in Understanding Kingella kingae. Joseph W. St. Geme, III (eds.). Springer Briefs in Immunology, 2016.
2013
Brady RC, Downes KJ. Infectious disease. In: Marino BA, Fine KS (ed). Blueprints Pediatrics, 6th Edition. Baltimore: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, 2013.
2009
Downes KJ, Shah SS. Infectious diseases epidemiology. In: Shah SS (ed). Pediatric Practice: Infectious Diseases. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing, 2009; 61-68.