Dimitri M Drekonja

Dimitri M Drekonja is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota with a specific affiliation at the Veteran's Administration Medical Center. His research focuses on antimicrobial stewardship, infectious diseases, and clinical outcomes related to antibiotic use.

Dr. Drekonja's research interests center around optimizing antimicrobial use in clinical practice, particularly focusing on urinary tract infections, Clostridium difficile infection, and antimicrobial resistance. His work examines prescribing patterns among physicians, especially resident physicians in training, and develops interventions to improve appropriate antibiotic use. He has conducted significant research on antibiotic duration for urinary tract infections in men and has contributed to understanding antimicrobial use in various clinical settings.

His publication trend shows consistent research activity since 2008 with 50 total research outputs, including recent high-impact publications in The Lancet Microbe and JAMA. His work spans clinical trials, systematic reviews, and antimicrobial stewardship interventions, with a strong focus on practical applications in healthcare settings.

Dr. Drekonja has served as a Co-Investigator on significant federally funded projects through the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (AHRQ), particularly around Clostridium difficile infection. His research has received substantial attention with multiple publications garnering significant citations and media coverage.

He has been an active voice in public health matters, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing expert commentary to Minnesota media outlets on pandemic response, health disparities, and public health measures like mask mandates.