Center for Global Health and Development

Davidson Hamer, MD, FACP (Associate Professor of International Health and Medicine, Boston University Schools of Public Health and Medicine): Dr. Hamer is a board-certified specialist in infectious diseases, with a particular interest in tropical infectious diseases, who has twenty years of field research experience in micronutrients, malaria, HIV/AIDS, pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases. Dr. Hamer is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Nutrition at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Dr. Hamer is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Nutrition at the and Adjunct Scientist in the Nutritional Immunology Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. During the last decade he has supervised and provided technical support to more than 50 studies in developing countries that evaluated interventions for the treatment and prevention of malaria, HIV/AIDS, micronutrient deficiencies, diarrheal disease, and pneumonia. He currently has active projects in Ecuador, Kenya, Zambia, India, and Vietnam.

In addition to his research activities, Dr. Hamer provides primary care to HIV-positive patients and serves as the Director of the Travel Clinic at Boston Medical Center, which is based in the Center for Infectious Diseases.

Hamer DH, Mwanakasale V, MacLeod WB, Chalwe V, Mukwamataba D, Champo D, Mwanayanda L, Chilengi R, Mubikayi L, Mulele CK, Mulenga M, Thea DM, Gill CJ. Two dose versus monthly intermittent preventive treatment of malaria with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in HIV-seropositive pregnant Zambian women. J Infect Dis 2007;196:1585-94.

Gill CJ, MacLeod WB, Mwanakasale V, Chalwe V, Mwanayanda L, Champo D, Mukwamataba D, Chilengi R, Thea DM, Hamer DH. Inferiority of single dose sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine intermittent preventive therapy during pregnancy among HIV-positive Zambian women. J Infect Dis 2007;196:1577-84.

The Young Infants Clinical Signs Study Group. Clinical signs predicting severe illness in young infants: a multicentre study. Lancet 2008;371:135-42.

Sipilanyambe N, Simon JL, Chanda P, Olumese P, Snow RW, Hamer DH. Changing and implementing new national antimalarial drug policy in Zambia: from chloroquine to artemether-lumefantrine. Malaria J 2008;7:25.

Hamer DH, Egas J, Estrella B, MacLeod WB, Griffiths JK, Sempértegui F. An assessment of the Binax NOW Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen test in children with nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization. Clin Infect Dis 2002;34:1025-8.

Zinc Against Plasmodium Study Group. Effect of zinc on the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children: a randomized, controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:805-12.

Sempértegui F, Estrella B, Vallejo W, Tapia L, Herrera D, Moscoso F, Cerón G, Griffiths JK, Hamer DH. Selenium serum concentrations in malnourished Ecuadorian children: a case-control study. Int J Vit Nutr Res 2003;73:181-6.

Gill CJ, Lau J, Gorbach SL, Hamer DH. Diagnostic accuracy of stool assays for inflammatory bacterial gastroenteritis in developed and resource-poor countries. Clin Infect Dis 2003;37:365-75.

Hamer DH, Connor B. Travel health knowledge, attitudes and practices among United States travelers. J Travel Med 2004;11:23-26.

Hamer DH, MacLeod W, Addo-Yobo E, Duggan CP, Estrella B, Fawzi WW, Konde-Lule JK, Mwanakasale V, Premji ZG, Sempértegui F, Simon JL, Ssengooba FP, Yeboah-Antwi K, and the ZAP (Zinc Against Plasmodium) Study Group. Age, temperature, and parasite density predict chloroquine treatment failure in children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2003;97:422-28.

Hamer DH, Gorbach SL. Gastrointestinal infections. In DA Warrell, TM Cox, JD Firth and EJ Benz Jnr. Eds. The Oxford Textbook of Medicine 4th, Oxford University Press, Oxford, England; 2003, p. 658-666.

Hamer DH. Treatment of bacterial and viral diarrhea and food poisoning. In Baddour L, Gorbach SL. Therapy of Infectious Diseases. Elsevier Science, Philadelphia, 2003.

Cash RA, Hamer DH. Cholera and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. In Armstrong D, Cohen J, eds. Infectious Diseases, 2^nd ed. Harcourt Brace & Company Ltd. London, 2003.

Gill CJ, Sabin LL, Tham J, Hamer DH. Reconsidering cotrimoxazole prophylaxis for HIV-exposed African infants. WHO Bulletin 2004;82:1-7.

Meydani SN, Leka LS, Fine BC, Dallal GE, Keusch GT, Singh MF, Hamer DH. Vitamin E and respiratory infections among elderly nursing home residents: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2004;292:828-836.

Callahan MV, Hamer DH. Remote destinations. In Keystone J, Kozarsky P, Nothdurft HD, Freedman DO, Connor B, eds. Travel Medicine, 1^st ed. Elsevier Limited, London, 2004.

Callahan MV, Hamer DH. Intestinal Nematodes. In Gorbach SL, Bartlett JG, Blacklow NR (eds): Infectious Diseases, 3rd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA 2004.

Hamer DH, Freedman DO. Tissue Nematodes. In Gorbach SL, Bartlett JG, Blacklow NR (eds): Infectious Diseases, 3rd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA 2004.

Hamer DH, Snydman DR. Food Poisoning. In Gorbach SL, Bartlett JG, Blacklow NR (eds): Infectious Diseases, 3rd ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA 2004.

Gill CJ, Hamer DH. A Primer on Foodborne Illness. In Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology, Elsevier, 2004.

Meydani SN, Han, SN, Hamer DH. Vitamin E and respiratory infection in the elderly. Ann NY Acad Sci 2004;1031:214-222.

Duggan CP, MacLeod WB, Krebs NF, Westcott JL, Fawzi WW, Premji ZG, Mwanakasale M, Simon JL, Yeboah-Antwi K, Hamer DH and the Zinc Against Plasmodium Study Group. Plasma zinc concentrations are depressed during the acute phase response in children with falciparum malaria. J Nutr 2005;135:802-7.

Fox M, Lash T, Hamer DH. A sensitivity analysis of a randomized controlled trial of zinc in treatment of falciparum malaria in children. Contemporary Clin Trials 2005;26:281-9.

Gill CJ, Hamer DH, Simon JL, Thea DM, Sabin L. No room for complacency about adherence to antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS 2005;19:1243-9.

Zurovac D, Ndhlovu M, Rowe AK, Hamer DH, Thea DM, Snow RW. Treatment of paediatric malaria during a period of drug transition to artemether-lumefantrine in Zambia: cross-sectional study. Brit Med J 2005;331:734-7.

Rodríguez A, Hamer DH, Rivera J, Acosta M, Salgado G, Gordillo M, Cabezas M, Naranjo C, Leguísamo J, Gómez D, Fuenmayor G, Játiva E, Guamán G, Estrella B, Sempértegui F. Effects of moderate doses of vitamin A as an adjunct to the treatment of pneumonia in underweight and normal children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;82:1090-6.

Saha SK, Darmstadt GL, Yamanaka N, Billal DS, Nasreen T, Islam M, Hamer DH. Rapid diagnosis of pneumococcal meningitis: implications for treatment and measuring disease burden. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2005;24:1093-1098.

Gismondi PM, Hamer DH, Leka LS, Dallal G, Fiatarone Singh MA, Meydani SN. Strategies, time, and costs associated with the recruitment and enrollment of nursing home residents for a micronutrient supplementation clinical trial. J Gerontol: Med Sciences 2005;60A:1469-74.

Abdullah ASM, Hamer DH. Travel-related health problems of Hong Kong residents: assessing the need for travel medicine services. J Travel Med Infect Dis 2006;6:324-331.

Sempértegui F, Estrella B, Elmieh N, Jordan M, Ahmed T, Rodríguez A, Katherine L. Tucker KL Hamer DH, Reeves PG, Meydani SN. Nutritional, immunological, and health status of the elderly population living in poor neighborhoods of Quito, Ecuador. Brit J Nutr 2006;96:845-853.

Callahan MV, Hamer DH. On the medical edge: preparation of the expatriate, refugee or disaster relief worker, and Peace Corps volunteer. Infect Dis Clin N Am 2005;19:85-101.

Hamer DH. The respiratory benefits of vitamin E supplements. J Resp Dis 2005;26:368-9.

Hamer DH. Mineral intake needs and infectious diseases. In Report of the Committee on Mineral Requirements for Cognitive and Physical Performance of Military Personnel; Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, Washington, DC, 2006.

Sempértegui F, Díaz M, Mejía R, Rodríguez-Mora OG, Rentería E, Guarderas C, Estrella B, Recalde R, Hamer DH, Reeves P. Low concentrations of zinc in gastric mucosa are associated with increased severity of Helicobacter pylori-induced inflammation. Helicobacter 2007;12:43-48.

Zurovac D, Ndhlovu M, Sipilinyambe N, Chanda P, Hamer DH, Simon JL, Snow RW. Paediatric malaria case-management with artemether-lumefantrine in Zambia: a repeat cross-sectional study. Malaria J 2007;6: doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-6-31.

Varma JL, Das S, Sankar RS, Mannar MGV, Levinson FJ, Hamer DH. Community-level micronutrient fortification of a food supplement in India: a controlled trial with pre-school children aged 36-66 months. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:1127-33.

Hamer DH, Ndhlovu M, Zurovac D, Fox M, Yeboah-Antwi K, Chanda P, Sipilinyambe N, Simon JL, Snow RW. Does improving coverage of parasitological diagnostic tests change malaria treatment practices? An operational cross-sectional study in Zambia. JAMA 2007;297:2227-2231.

Falade CO, Yusuf BO, Fadero FF, Mokuolu OA, Hamer DH, Salako LA. Intermittent preventive therapy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is effective in preventing maternal and placental malaria in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria. Malaria J 2007;6:88 (doi:10.1186/1475-2875-6-88).

Yeboah-Antwi K, Addo-Yobo E, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Carlin JB, Plange-Rhule G, Osei Akoto A, Weber MW, Hamer DH. Clinico-epidemiological profile and predictors of severe illness in young infants (0-59 days) in Ghana. Ann Trop Paediatr 2008;28:35-43.

Zurovac D, Njogu J, Akhwale W, Hamer DH, Snow RW. Translation of artemether-lumefantrine treatment policy into paediatric clinical practice: an early experience from Kenya. Trop Med Int Health 2008;13:99-107.

Gill CJ, Mwanakasale V, Fox MP, Chilengi R, Tembo M, Nsofwa M, Chalwe V, Mwananyanda L, Mukwamataba D, Malilwe B, Champo D, MacLeod WB, Thea DH, Hamer DH. The impact of HIV infection on colonization and seroepidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae among Zambian women. J Infect Dis 2008;197:1000-5.

Zurovac D, Njogu J, Akhwale W, Hamer DH, Larson B, Snow RW. Effects of revised diagnostic recommendations on malaria treatment practices across age groups in Kenya. Trop Med Int Health 2008;13:784-7.

Hamer DH, Ruffing R, Callahan MV, Lyons SH, Abdullah ASM. Knowledge and use of measures to reduce health risks by corporate expatriate employees in Western Ghana. J Travel Med 2008;15:237-42.

Falsey AR, Dallal GE, Formica MA, Andolina GG, Hamer DH, Leka LL, Meydani SN. Long term care facilities: a cornucopia of viral pathogens. J Am Geriatrics Soc 2008;56:1281-5.

Njogu J, Akhwale W, Hamer DH, Zurovac D. Health facility and health worker readiness to deliver new national treatment policy for malaria in Kenya. East Afr Med J 2008; 85:215-223.

Gill CJ, Mwanakasale V, Fox MP, Chilengi R, Tembo M, Nsofwa M, Chalwe V, Mwananyanda L, Mukwamataba D, Malilwe B, Champo D, Macleod WB, Thea DM, Hamer DH. Effect of presumptive cotrimoxazole prophylaxis on pneumococcal colonization rates, seroepidemiology, and antibiotic resistance among Zambian infants. Bull WHO 2008;86:929-38.

Osei AK, Houser R, Bulusu S, Hamer DH. Acceptability of micronutrient fortified school meals by school children in rural Himalayan villages of India. J Food Sci 2008;73:S354-S358.

Sabin LL, Bachman DeSilva M, Hamer DH, Keyi X, Yue Y, Fan W, Li T, Heggenhougen HK, Seton L, Wilson IB, Gill CJ. Barriers to adherence to antiretroviral medications among patients living with HIV in southern China: a qualitative study. AIDS Care 2008;20:1244-52.

Brooks MI, Singh N, Hamer DH. Control measures for malaria in pregnancy. Indian J Med Res 2008;128:246-53.

Jeena PM, Adhikari M, Sturm AW, Carlin JB, Qazi S, Weber MW, Hamer DH. Clinico-epidemiological profile and predictors of severe illness in young infants (<60 days) in Durban, South Africa. S Afr Med J 2008;98:883-888.

Orogade AA, Okafor HU, Falade CO, Mokuolu OA, Mamman AI, Ogbunu TA, Ogunkunle OO, Ernest SK, Callahan MV, Hamer DH. Clinical and laboratory features of congenital malaria in Nigeria. J Pediatr Infect Dis 2008;3:1-7.

Gill CJ, Mantaring JBV, MacLeod WB, Mendoza M, Mendoza S, Huskins WC, Goldmann DA, Hamer DH. Impact of enhanced infection control at two neonatal intensive care units in the Philippines. Clin Infect Dis 2009;48:13-21.

Hamer DH, Sempértegui F, Estrella B, Tucker KL Rodríguez A, Egas J, Dallal GE, Selhub J, Griffiths JK, Meydani SN. Micronutrient deficiencies are associated with impaired immune response and higher burden of respiratory infections in elderly Ecuadorians. J Nutr 2009;139:113-9.

Bahl R, Martines J, Ali N, Bhan MK, Carlo W, Chan KY, Darmstadt G, Hamer DH, Lawn JE, McMillan DD, Mohan P, Paul V, Tsai AC, Victora C, Weber M, Zaidi A, Rudan I. Research priorities to reduce global mortality from newborn infections by 2015. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2009;28:S43-S48.

Litzow JM, Gill CJ, Mantaring JBV, Fox MP, MacLeod WB, Mendoza M, Mendoza S, Scobie R, Huskins WC, Goldmann DA, Hamer DH. High frequency of multidrug resistant Gram-negative rods in two neonatal intensive care units in the Philippines. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2009;30:543-9.