Aaron Milstone, MD, MHS

Professional Titles

• Associate Hospital Epidemiologist, Johns Hopkins Hospital

Primary Academic Title

Professor of Pediatrics

Background

Centers and Institutes

• Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality
• Johns Hopkins Children's Center

Clinical Trials Summary

• Treating Parents to Reduce NICU Transmission of Staphylococcus Aureus Trial (TREAT PARENTS)
• Community Central Line Infection Prevention Trial (CCLIP)
• Parent-to-Child Nasal Microbiota Transplant to Promote Colonization Resistance to Staphylococcus Aureus

Videos

• The Flu and You | Does antiviral medication work against the current strain of the flu?

• The Flu and You | Should we get prescription medication for the flu as a precaution?

• The Flu and You | What symptoms should I look for in my child?

• The Flu and You | What should I do if I suspect my child has the flu?

Research Interests

Antibiotic resistance. Prevention of Staphylococcus aureus. Prevention of hospital-acquired infections. Diagnostic stewardship. 

Research Summary

Dr. Milstone’s research is dedicated to preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and combating the rise of antibiotic resistance in pediatric patients.

His work explores a range of critical topics, including:

• The safety and effectiveness of decolonization and microbiome manipulation to prevent HAIs in children
• Diagnostic stewardship strategies to reduce unnecessary testing and antibiotic overuse
• The epidemiology and prevention of bloodstream infections in hospitalized children

Dr. Milstone’s research has led to innovative, evidence-based interventions—such as daily antiseptic bathing protocols—that are now widely adopted in pediatric hospitals across the United States. These protocols have significantly reduced the risk of bloodstream infections in critically ill children and helped transform clinical practice to enhance patient safety.

A specialist in hospital epidemiology and infection control, Dr. Milstone focuses on strategies to limit antibiotic resistance and reduce healthcare-associated infections. His team also pioneered the first parent-to-child nasal microbiota transplant, a novel approach designed to protect infants from life-threatening Staphylococcus aureus infections.

PubMed

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?holding=jhumlib_fft_ndi&otool=jhumlib&term=milstone+am

Selected Publications

• Milstone AM, Elward A, Song X, Zerr DM, Orscheln R, Speck K, Obeng D, Reich NG, Coffin SE, Perl TM. Daily Chlorhexidine Bathing to Reduce Bacteraemia in Critically Ill Children: a Multicentre, Cluster-Randomised, Crossover Trial. Lancet. 2013 Mar 30;381(9872):1099-106. Epub 2013 Jan 28.(selected by Faculty of 1000)

• Milstone AM, Voskertchian A, Koontz DW, Khamash DF, Ross T, Aucott SW, Gilmore MM, Cosgrove SE, Carroll KC, Colantuoni E. Effect of Treating Parents Colonized With Staphylococcus aureus on Transmission to Neonates in the Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2020 Jan 28;323(4):319-328. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.20785

• Colantuoni E, Milstone AM. Low Diversity in Nasal Microbiome Associated With Staphylococcus aureus Colonization and Bloodstream Infections in Hospitalized Neonates. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021 Sep 18;8(10)

• Woods-Hill CZ, Colantuoni EA, Koontz DW, Voskertchian A, Xie A, Thurm C, Miller MR, Fackler JC, Milstone AM; and the Bright Star Authorship group. Diagnostic stewardship for blood cultures in critically ill children: results of the Bright STAR Collaborative. JAMA Pediatr. 2022 May 2

• Zhong D, Xiao S, Debes AK, Egbert ER, Caturegli P, Colantuoni E, Milstone AM. Durability of Antibody Levels After Vaccination With mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Individuals With or Without Prior Infection. JAMA. 2021 Nov 1

Honors

• Award for Excellence in Mentoring, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1/1/20
• Mentor Scholar Award, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, 1/1/18
• Fellow, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, 1/1/17
• Top Doctors, Infectious Diseases, Baltimore Magazine, 1/1/16
• Young Investigator Award, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, 1/1/14
• Fellow, Infectious Diseases Society of America, 1/1/14
• Inaugural Caroline B. Hall Clinical Innovation Award, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, 1/1/13
• Election to Society for Pediatric Research, 1/1/13
• Fellow, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, 1/1/13
• Top Doctors, Infectious Diseases, Baltimore Magazine, 1/1/12
• Excellence in Teaching Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 1/1/11
• Pediatric Investigator Award, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, 1/1/10
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Award recognizing outstanding poster presentation at IDSA National Meeting, 1/1/07
• Clinical Research Scholars Award, Johns Hopkins Medicine, 1/1/07
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Award recognizing outstanding poster presentation at IDSA National Meeting, 1/1/05
• Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1/1/05
• Fellowship Award, National Pediatric Infectious Disease Society, 1/1/05
• Election to Alpha Omega Alpha, 1/1/00

Memberships

• American Academy of Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases Society of America
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
• Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America