Infectious Diseases

As a teacher and head of the National Board accredited Infectious Diseases Fellowship Programme at P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Dr. Ayesha Sunavala is passionate about promoting awareness and training in the specialization of Infectious diseases.

She is a strong proponent for the responsible use of antimicrobials to prevent drug-resistant infections. In collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical research, and as secretary of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee, she has been instrumental in the formulation and implementation of the hospital antibiotic policy. She is a Core Committee Member & Co-author of the ICMR National Treatment Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use in Common Syndromes.

Since the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic, she has been actively involved in treating hospitalised and outpatients with COVID 19. She has played a pivotal role in guiding hospital policies and creating community awareness on the subject. Dr. Ayesha Sunavala is member of the scientific steering committee for the 2021 COVID Guidelines India. She has also participated in the WHO sponsored Global Solidarity Trial on antivirals in COVID 19.

She has a special interest in the prevention, early detection and management of post-COVID infective complications like invasive mucormycosis. With the support of a multi-disciplinary team including ENT surgeons, oculoplastic surgeon, radiologists, microbiologists and pathologists at P.D. Hinduja Hospital; she has been closely involved in the management of a series of cases of post-COVID 19 invasive mucormycosis.

Dr. Ayesha Sunavala is a firm believer in preventive medicine. She started the Adult Immunisation and Travel Medicine Clinics at P.D. Hinduja Hospital in 2016 and has been actively advocating the importance of vaccinations in adults long before the current pandemic.

Her other areas of special interest and expertise include bone and joint infections, extrapulmonary tuberculosis and HIV medicine. She has co-authored a Case-book on HIV Medicine.

Work Experience:

• 1.Consultant, Division of Infectious Diseases  - Dec 2017- present
  • P. D. Hinduja National Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai
  • Teacher & Head, National Board accredited Infectious Diseases Fellowship Programme
  • Secretary, Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee
  • Mentor & Course Coordinator, Hospital Fellowship in Infectious Diseases & Antimicrobial Stewardship
• 2. Junior Consultant, Infectious Diseases - Feb 2017- Nov 2017
  P. D. Hinduja National Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai
• 3. Associate Consultant, Infectious Diseases  - Feb 2016-Jan 2017
  P. D. Hinduja National Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai
• 4. Infection Control Officer - Jan 2015-Dec 2015
  P. D. Hinduja National Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai
• 5. Fellow- Infectious Diseases -  May 2012-May 2014
  P. D. Hinduja National Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai
• 6. Senior Registrar- ICU - March 2011- October 2011
  Saifee Hospital, Mumbai
• 7.Resident medical Officer- internal Medicine   -  August 2007- July 2010
  Jaslok Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mumbai

• Certificate of Honours for high performance in academic studies & extra-currivular activites. Odessa State Medical University 2004
• Best Poster Award- Carbapenem-resistant Bone & Joint Infections. CIDSCON Mumbai 2013
• Best Oral Presentation- HIV spares no one. HIV Congress, Mumbai 2014
• Best Oral Presentation- Making Sense of Molecular Tests- HIV Congress, Goa 2015
• Stood first in the National Board accredited Infectious Diseases Fellowship Exam- CMC Vellore, 2015

• Member, Clinical Infectious Disease Society, India
• Member, European Society of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
• Member, Association of Physicians of India
• Member, Association of Medical Consultants, Mumbai

Textbook Co-Author:

• Rajeev Soman, Ayesha Sunavala. Case Book of HIV Medicine. Co-authors. Tree Life Media, 2018

Publications & Textbook Inputs:

• Patel A, Agarwal R, Rudramurthy S Sunavala A, Chakrabarty A. A multicenter study on the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with COVID-associated mucormycosis. Emerging Inf Dis 2021 (accepted for publication)
• Sunavala A, Mohammed I, Diarrhoea in the ICU. In: ISCCM Textbook of Critical Care.  2021 in press
• Sunavala A, Kanjiya K, Agrawal A. Fever in the ICU. In: Dixit S, Kulkarni A, Zirpe K, ed. Approach to Infections in Critically Ill Patients. 2021 In press
• Sunavala A, Agrawal U.Melioidosis. In Kamath S et al. API Textbook of Medicine, 12th Edition, 2021 in press
• Sunavala A, Raut I, Kanjiya k. Nosocomial Infections. In: Shrivastav O, Mehta M,ed. MCQs in Infectious Diseases. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. 2021
• Agrawal U, Samant R, Kothari J, Sunavala A. Melioidosis: Missed Opportunities and Opportunistic Pathogens. Medical J Armed Forces India. 2021 in press
• Soman R, Sunavala A. Post COVID-19 Mucormycosis - from the Frying Pan into the Fire. JAPI. Jan 2021; 69:12-13
• Agrawal U, Kanjiya K, Rodrigues C, Sunavala A. A Tale of Compounding Oddities. BMJ Case Reports. 2021 Mar 4. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-237382 . Online ahead of print.
• Ajbani K, Kazi M, Agrawal U, Jatale R, Soman R, Sunavala A, Shetty A, Rodrigues C. Evaluation of CSF Pyrosequencing to diagnose Tubercular meningitis: A Retrospective Diagnostic Accuracy Study. Tuberculosis. 2021 January 2. Doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2020.102048. Online ahead of print
• Sunavala A. COVID-19  Clinical Features & Diagnosis.In: Soman R, Singhal T, ed. by. COVID Case Book. Mumbai: Treelife Media; 2021.
• Sunavala A, Agrawal U. The Immune Response to COVID-19 at extremes of Age. In: Soman R, Singhal T, ed. by. COVID Case Book. Mumbai: Treelife Media; 2021.
• Sunavala A, Mohammed I. Case series of Malaria against a backdrop of COVID. In: Soman R, Singhal T, ed. by. COVID Case Book. Mumbai: Treelife Media; 2021
• Sunavala A, Padate B, Mohammed I, Desai N.Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with Reactivation/Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2. In: Soman R, Singhal T, ed. by. COVID Case Book. Mumbai: Treelife Media; 2021.
• Sunavala A, A curious case of Hemoptysis during the COVID Pandemic. In: Soman R, Singhal T, ed. by. COVID Case Book. Mumbai: Treelife Media; 2021.
• Agrawal U, Sunavala A. COVID coagulopathy presenting as caecal perforation and intracranial bleed. In: Soman R, Singhal T, ed. by. COVID Case Book. Mumbai: Treelife Media; 2021.
• Davda K, Mohammed I, Sunavala A. Mucor and COVID.In: Soman R, Singhal T, ed. by. COVID Case Book. Mumbai: Treelife Media; 2021.
• Agrawal U, Savaj P, Davda K, Soman R, Shetty A, Sunavala A. Successful treatment of disseminated granulomatous aspergillosis in an apparently immunocompetent host. Trop Doct. 2020 Jun 23. doi: 10.1177/0049475520934358.
• Rajeev Soman, Ayesha Sunavala. Invasive Fungal Infections in Asia, Challenges, Pitfalls & Solutions. In Chakraborty A et al. Clinical Practice of Medical Mycology in Asia, Chapter 21; 317-324. 2020
• Ayesha Sunavala, Vrajesh Udani Antimicrobial Therapy in CNS Infections in Rational Antimicrobial Therapy in Paediatrics 3rd Edition. Singhal T et al. 2019
• Ayesha Sunavala. Melioidosis. In Kamath S et al. API Textbook of Medicine, 11th Edition, Chapter 29; 173-6. 2019
• Sunavala A, Agrawal U, Gala P. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring for Beta-lactams and Colistin: Is It Ready for Prime Time? In: Todi S, Dixit S, Zirpe K, Mehta Y, ed. by. Critical Care Update 2019. New Delhi: Jaypee brothers; 2019. p. 173-177.
• Core Committee Member & Co-author, ICMR National Treatment Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use in Common Syndromes 2019
• Sunavala A, Kanjiya K, Varma M, Soman R. Chapter 7: Bone and Join infections. In: Gopalkrishnan R, Ohri V, Walia K. Treatment Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use in Common Syndromes. ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research); 2019. P 61-68
• Mathur P, Sunavala A, Agrawal U, Mittal Samarth. Chapter 6: Skin and Soft tissue Infections. In: Gopalkrishnan R, Ohri V, Walia K. Treatment Guidelines for Antimicrobial Use in Common Syndromes 2019. ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research); 2019. P 55-60
• Rajeev Soman, Neha Gupta, Piyush Chaudhari, Ayesha Sunavala, Anjali Shetty, Camilla Rodrigues. JAPI April 2018, vol. 66; 22-25.Implications for Diagnosis & Treatment of Infective Endocarditis. Eight year experience of an Infectious Disease Team in a Private Tertiary Care Centre.
• Menon A, Rodrigues C, Soman R, Sunavala A, Agashe VM. Aspergillus osteomyelitis of the ribs in immunocompetent hosts: Report of two rare cases. Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports 2017 Jul- Aug ; 7(4): 61- 64.
• Rajeev Soman, Ayesha Sunavala, Jatin Kothari. Case contribution: A Puzzling Pulmonary Nodule in a Renal Transplant Recipient. In Udwadia ZF et al. Puzzling Cases in Pulmonary Medicine. Kothari 2017, 14-20.
• Ayesha Sunavala, Rajeev Soman. Invasive Fungal Infections; API Medicine Update 2017
• Ayesha Sunavala. Rational Use of Antibiotics in the ICU; API Monograph, Critical Care Medicine 2017
• Ayesha Sunavala. Urosepsis, beyond the Urinary Tract. Critical Care Chronicle, MYLAN Pharmaceuticals, 2016
• Rajeev Soman, Ayesha Sunavala. Letter to Editor: Diagnosis of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria through Endoscopic Biopsy requires Careful Interpretation.. JAPI Oct. 2015
• Ayesha Sunavala, Tanu Singhal, Rajeev Soman. Pioneers in Infection Control- Part 1 JAPI November 2015 vol. 63
• Ayesha Sunavala, Tanu Singhal, Rajeev Soman. Pioneers in Infection Control- Part 2 JAPI December 2015 vol. 63
• Ayesha Sunavala, Piyush Chaudhari, Rajeev Soman Photo Quizz: Progressive Multifocal Leucoencephalopathy (PML) with IRIS after ART. CIDS Newsletter April 2015 vol.2
• Rajeev Soman , Neha Gupta , Mitesh Suthar , Ayesha Sunavala , Anjali Shetty , Camilla Rodrigues. Intravascular Stent-related Endocarditis due to Rapidly Growing Mycobacteria : A New Problem in the Developing World. JAPI Jan 2015 Vol. 63
• Mitesh Suthar, Ayesha Sunavala. Ebola Virus Disease Confirmed in a Traveler to Nigeria, Two U.S. Healthcare Workers in Liberia.CIDS Newsletter August 2014 vol.1
• Rajeev Soman, Ayesha Sunavala, Jatin Kothari CPC: A Puzzling Pulmonary Nodule in a Renal Transplant Recipient. JAPI July 2014 vol. 62
• Ayesha Sunavala, Camilla Rodrigues. Diagnostic Testing for Clostridium difficile – when, what & how? Infectious Disease Newsletter 2014, Vol. 2, Issue 1
• CAP in a Capsule. Rajeev Soman, Ayesha Sunavala. JAPI July 2013 Vol. 61
• Principles of Management of Invasive Fungal Infections. Rajeev Soman, Ayesha Sunavala. In Chakrabarti A. Ed Fungal Infections in Asia: The Eastern Frontier of Mycology. Elsevier 2013, 221-7
• Rajeev Soman, Ayesha Sunavala. Management of Invasive Fungal Sinusitis. In Mankekar G. Ed Invasive Fungal Sinusitis. Springer 2013, 63-75
• Rajeev Soman, Ayesha Sunavala. Clostridium difficile Infection - Is it coming at us? JAPI Nov. 2012, Vol. 60
• Gupta Vishal; Sunavala Ayesha; Bhansali Shirish K; Kakkar, Ritu. Case Report on Parathyroid Storm Secondary to Parathyroid Adenoma Presenting as Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis. Endocrinologist: January/February 2009, Vol. 19, Issue 1 - pp 6-8
• AJ Sunavala, HP Thacker, JN Khanna. Left Pulmonary Artery Hypoplasia Presenting with Unilateral Hyperluscent Lung. JAPI March 2011, Vol. 59

Oral Presentations & Posters (2019-2020):

• Vaidya V, Sunavala A. Invasive fungal Infections in COVID-19: the whole nine yards. Abstract No. 02916 accepted as an oral presentation at 31st ECCMID (European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious diseases) July 2021
• Mohammed I, Agrawal U, Sunavala A. Susceptibility Profile of Rapidly-Growing Mycobacteria (RGM): A single centre retrospective study of 524 isolates: an Indian experience. Abstract No. 02548 accepted as an E-poster at 31st ECCMID (European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious diseases) July 2021
• Mohammed I, Agrawal U, Sunavala A. Susceptibility Profile of Nocardia spp.: A single centre retrospective study of 124 isolates: an Indian experience. Abstract No. 02548 accepted as an E-poster at 31st ECCMID (European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious diseases) July 2021
• Agrawal U, Sunavala A. Interpretation of Phenotypical Susceptibility Pattern to predict the exclusion of blaNDM in carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: a retrospective analytical study in a resource limited setting.  Abstract No, 02536 accepted as an E-poster at 31st ECCMID (European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious diseases) July 2021
• Mohammad I, Agrawal U, Udani V, Sankhe M, Rodrigues C, Sunavala A. A Curious Case of Likely Iatrogenic CNS Nocardiosis. EP121. Poster session presented at: CIDSCON 2020. 10th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2020 Nov 21-30; Online.
• Mohammad I, Agrawal U, Udani V, Sankhe M, Rodrigues C, Sunavala A. A Curious Case of Likely Iatrogenic CNS Nocardiosis. EP121. Poster session presented at: CIDSCON 2020. 10th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2020 Nov 21-30; Online.
• Mohammad I, Agrawal U, Mulkutkar S, Almel S, Hegde A, Shetty A, Sunavala A. The Innumerable Challenges of Managing COVID-19 in the immunosuppressed host. EP78. Poster session presented at: CIDSCON 2020. 10th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2020 Nov 21-30; Online.
• Mohammad I, Agrawal U, Davda K, Desai S, Varty S, Shetty A, Sunavala A. Mucormycosis 2020- The Anticipated Outbreak. EP79. Poster session presented at: CIDSCON 2020. 10th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2020 Nov 21-30; Online.
• Mohammad I, Agrawal U, Menon A, Agashe V, Rodrigues C, Sunavala A. All Granulomas are not Tuberculosis- Dig Deep, Deeper, Deepest. EP128. Poster session presented at: CIDSCON 2020. 10th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2020 Nov 21-30; Online.
• Agrawal U, Mohammad I, Chawla P, Sunavala A, Shetty A, Ashavaid T, Rodrigues C. Correlation between SARS-COV2 PCR CT values and negative SARS COV-2 antibody in healthcare workers- A Single Centre Retrospective Observational Study. Poster session presented at: ECCVID 2020. 1st ESCMID Conference of Coronavirus Disease; 2020 Sep 23-25; Online
• Ajbani K, Kazi M, Agrawal U, Jatale R, Soman R, Sunavala A, Shetty A, Rodrigues C. Evaluation of CSF Pyrosequencing in the diagnosis of TB meningitis: A Single-Centre Retrospective Diagnostic Accuracy Study. Poster session presented at: ECCMID 2020. 30th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; 2020 Apr 18-21; Paris, France.
• Agrawal U, Kanjiya K, Ajbani K, Kazi M, Shetty A, Rodrigues C, Sunavala A. TB Pyrosequencing: A Single Center Retrospective Study over 1 year. Poster session presented at: CIDSCON 2019. 9th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2019 Aug 23-25; Kochi, India
• Agrawal U, Kanjiya K, Shetty A, Soman R, Menon A, Rodrigues C, Sunavala A. TB- The Great Illusionist. Poster session presented at: CIDSCON 2019. 9th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2019 Aug 23-25; Kochi, India
• Agrawal U, Kanjiya K, Gursahni R, Rodrigues C, Sunavala A. A Tale of Compounding Rarities. Poster session presented at: CIDSCON 2019. 9th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2019 Aug 23-25; Kochi, India
• Kanjiya k, Agrawal U, Sunavala A. Limitations of Automation. Poster session presented at: CIDSCON 2019. 9th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2019 Aug 23-25; Kochi, India
• Kanjiya k, Agrawal U, Sunavala A. Pseudotumor Abdomenii. Poster session presented at: CIDSCON 2019. 9th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2019 Aug 23-25; Kochi, India
• Agrawal U,, Kanjiya K, Savaj P, Davda K, Khandelwal A, Shetty A, Soman R, Sunavala A. A cryptic case of disseminated mould infection.  Poster session presented at: BIA 2019. 22nd Annual Spring Scientific Meeting of the British Infection Association; May 22-23; London, UK.
• Agrawal U, Kanjiya K, Davda K, Jatale R, Shetty A, Soman R, Rodrigues C, Sunavala A. Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in non-neutropenic hosts- A Single Center Retrospective Study. P0158. Poster session presented at: ECCMID 2019. 29th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; 2019 Apr 13-16; Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• 22nd Annual Spring Scientific Meeting of the British Infection Association; May 22-23; London, UK. A Fatal Misidentification. Oral Paper presented at: BIA 2019.  Agrawal U, Sunavala A.
• 22nd Annual Spring Scientific Meeting of the British Infection Association; May 22-23; London, UK A cryptic case of disseminated mould infection. Poster session presented at: BIA 2019. Agrawal U, Sunavala A.
• ECCMID 2019. 29th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; 2019 Apr 13-16; Amsterdam, NetherlandsAgrawal U, Sunavala A. Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in non-neutropenic hosts- A Single Center Retrospective Study. P0158.
• HISICON 2019, Kolkata. Impact of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Oncology and Haematology units in a tertiary care setting. Basu S, Sunavala A
• CIDSCON 2019. 9th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2019 Aug 23-25; Kochi.TB Pyrosequencing: A Single Center Retrospective Study over 1 year. Agrawal U, Rodrigues C, Sunavala A
• CIDSCON 2019. 9th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2019 Aug 23-25; Kochi. TB- The Great Illusionist. Agrawal U,Kanjiya K, Shetty A, Soman R, Menon A, Rodrigues C, Sunavala A
• CIDSCON 2019. 9th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2019 Aug 23-25; Kochi. A Tale of Compounding Rarities. Agrawal U,Kanjiya K, Shetty A, Soman R, Menon A, Rodrigues C, Sunavala A
• CIDSCON 2019. 9th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2019 Aug 23-25; Kochi. Limitations of Automation. Kanjiya K, Agrawal U, Sunavala A
• CIDSCON 2019. 9th Annual Conference of Clinical Infectious Diseases Society; 2019 Aug 23-25; Kochi. Pseudotumor Abdomenii.Kanjiya K, Agrawal U, Sunavala A