Miguel Imperial
MD, MHSc
Investigator and Medical Microbiologist, BC Children's Hospital
CW Infection Control Physician Lead
Investigator and Medical Microbiologist, BC Children's Hospital
Pediatric Meningoencephalitis Cluster Caused by Snowshoe Hare Virus, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, 2024.
Emerging infectious diseases
Ali F and Imperial M and Morshed M and Goldfarb DM and Gubbay JB and Hogan CA and Vijh R and Andres EN and Jaeckel M and Sajan J and Wood H and Robinson A and Tam J
DOI: 10.3201/eid3204.251392 PubMed: 4198625404 / 2026
Performance of the Xpert Xpress Strep A for detection of Streptococcus pyogenes from pediatric pleural fluids.
Microbiology spectrum
Amaral G and Gadkar VJ and Almodahka A and Goldfarb DM and Penny R and Watson N and Dhaliwal S and Chen T and Srigley JA and Gubbay JB and Imperial M and Li L
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03703-25 PubMed: 4200769304 / 2026
Prediction of SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics based on population-level cycle threshold values: An epidemic transmission and machine learning modeling study.
eLife
Khan AA and Sbihi H and Irvine MA and Jassem AN and Joffres Y and Klaver B and Janjua N and Bharmal A and Ng CH and Fjell CD and Imperial M and Roman S and Charles MK and Wilmer A and Galbraith J and Romney MG and Henry B and Hoang LMN and Krajden M and Hogan CA
DOI: 10.7554/elife.95666 PubMed: 4169724902 / 2026
Combined oropharyngeal nasal (ON) swabs for the molecular detection of respiratory pathogens including M. pneumoniae in symptomatic children.
Microbiology spectrum
Nelson H and Kayda I and Watson N and Kinshella M-LW and Cochrane J and Desai N and Dittrick M and Hoang L and Hawkes MT and Meckler G and Sabhaney V and Gubbay JB and Imperial M and Srigley JA and Li L and Goldfarb DM
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02181-25 PubMed: 4093776509 / 2025
Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection: serology vs. urea breath test
Microbiology Spectrum
Miguel Imperial and Kennard Tan and Chris Fjell and Yin Chang and Mel Krajden and Michael T. Kelly and Muhammad Morshed and Bobby G. Warren
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01084-2411 / 2024
Diphtheria Toxin-Producing Corynebacterium ramonii in Inner-City Population, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2019-2023.
Emerging infectious diseases
Lowe CF and Ritchie G and Crestani C and Imperial M and Matic N and Payne M and Stefanovic A and Whellams D and Brisse S and Romney MG
DOI: 10.3201/eid3102.241472 PubMed: 3977327701 / 2024
Serratia marcescens harbouring SME-type class A carbapenemases in Canada and the presence of blaSME on a novel genomic island, SmarGI1-1
Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
L. F. Mataseje and D. A. Boyd and J. Delport and L. Hoang and M. Imperial and B. Lefebvre and M. Kuhn and P. Van Caeseele and B. M. Willey and M. R. Mulvey
DOI: 10.1093/jac/dku04003 / 2014
Mucor velutinosus Central-Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection
Clinical Microbiology Newsletter
Amanda Wilmer and Alissa Wright and Victor Leung and Miguel Imperial and Mark W. Hull and Yazdan Mirzanejad and Marc G. Romney
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2013.10.00211 / 2013
Carbapenem-hydrolyzing oxacillinase-48 and oxacillinase-181 in Canada, 2011.
Emerging infectious diseases
Mataseje LF and Boyd DA and Hoang L and Imperial M and Lefebvre B and Miller M and Poutanen SM and Roscoe D and Willey BM and Mulvey MR
DOI: 10.3201/eid1901.120706 PubMed: 2326103801 / 2013
Cephalosporin and azithromycin susceptibility in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates by site of infection, British Columbia, 2006 to 2011.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Hottes TS and Lester RT and Hoang LM and McKay R and Imperial M and Gilbert M and Patrick D and Wong T and Martin I and Ogilvie G
DOI: 10.1097/olq.0b013e31827bd64c PubMed: 2325030101 / 2013
Brain serotonin-2 receptors in acute mania.
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
Yatham LN and Liddle PF and Erez J and Kauer-Sant'Anna M and Lam RW and Imperial M and Sossi V and Ruth TJ
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.057919 PubMed: 2004466001 / 2010
PET study of [(18)F]6-fluoro-L-dopa uptake in neuroleptic- and mood-stabilizer-naive first-episode nonpsychotic mania: effects of treatment with divalproex sodium.
The American journal of psychiatry
Yatham LN and Liddle PF and Shiah IS and Lam RW and Ngan E and Scarrow G and Imperial M and Stoessl J and Sossi V and Ruth TJ
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.159.5.768 PubMed: 1198613005 / 2002
Evaluation of the BioFire Meningitis Encephalitis PCR panel on pediatric acyclovir use in Northern Health Authority
We are evaluating whether implementation of the BioFire FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel in 2023 has reduced unnecessary empiric acyclovir use in pediatric patients undergoing evaluation for meningitis or encephalitis within the Northern Health Authority. The study would compare antiviral duration, time to discontinuation, and hospital utilization before and after introduction of the rapid PCR assay, since previously samples had to be referred to the BCCDC in Vancouver. The significance of this work lies in its antimicrobial/antiviral stewardship implications, particularly in rural and geographically dispersed healthcare settings where rapid diagnostics may improve decision-making, reduce medication exposure, shorten hospital stays, and decrease transfers to tertiary pediatric centres.
Prevalence and trends of Helicobacter pylori in the BC pediatric population over a 12-year period
Using extracted data from Lab Information Systems, we will characterize the prevalence and temporal trends of Helicobacter pylori infection among pediatric patients in British Columbia over a 12-year period. The study would examine changes in positivity rates across age groups, geographic regions, and testing methodologies. The significance of the project is its contribution to understanding the evolving epidemiology of pediatric H. pylori infection in a diverse Canadian population, which may help inform future testing practices, treatment guidelines, and public health strategies.
Impact of Pseudomonas screening in the CW NICU
We are looking at the impact of screening babies and environmental reservoirs such as sinks on Pseudomonas colonization and spread in the Children’s & Women’s NICU. Outcomes will include rates of colonization, invasive infection, outbreak detection and impacts of various disinfection regimens and mitigation measures. The significance of the study lies in improving understanding of the value of surveillance cultures in high-risk neonatal populations, where early identification of colonization may influence infection prevention strategies, antimicrobial stewardship, and NICU patient safety.
Our Research
At BC Children’s, we are making discoveries that save lives and transform health care for children in our province and around the world. Our research portfolio includes basic, clinical, population, and public health research.
EXPLORE OUR RESEARCH