Biography

Dr. Neerja Kakkar is a highly distinguished Head of Microbiology and Infection Control Department at Healing Hospital, Chandigarh with 22+ years of transformative experience in diagnostic microbiology, clinical microbiology, infection control, antimicrobial stewardship, and hospital epidemiology. She brings exceptional expertise in laboratory diagnostics, infection prevention strategies, and evidence-based microbiology practice.

Dr. Kakkar completed her MBBS from Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, Himachal Pradesh in 1996, where she developed a strong foundation in clinical medicine and laboratory sciences. She pursued her postgraduate specialization earning her MD in Microbiology from the prestigious Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh in 2000—India’s apex medical institute and one of the country’s premier microbiology training centers—gaining comprehensive training in all aspects of diagnostic microbiology, bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, immunology, and molecular microbiology.

After completing her MD, Dr. Kakkar pursued Senior Residency at PGIMER, Chandigarh, completing her advanced training in 2004. This additional senior residency experience at India’s premier medical institute provided her with extensive exposure to complex infectious diseases, advanced diagnostic techniques, quality control in microbiology, hospital infection control programs, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance.

Since 2004, Dr. Kakkar has been actively working in the field of microbiology and infection control for over 22 years, gaining extensive experience across diagnostic microbiology services, infection prevention and control programs, antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, and hospital epidemiology. Her two decades of experience have made her one of the most experienced microbiologists in the region.

She is registered with the Punjab Medical Council (Registration No. 28720), ensuring adherence to the highest standards of medical ethics, professional conduct, and regulatory compliance in medical practice.

Dr. Kakkar specializes in comprehensive microbiology and infection control including diagnostic microbiology (culture and sensitivity testing for bacteria, fungi, parasites; identification of pathogenic microorganisms; antimicrobial susceptibility testing; automated microbiology systems; rapid diagnostic tests for infectious diseases), clinical bacteriology (identification and antimicrobial testing of bacterial pathogens including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, multidrug-resistant organisms – MDROs, MRSA, ESBL, carbapenem-resistant organisms), clinical virology (viral culture, serological testing for viral infections, molecular diagnostics for viruses), clinical mycology (fungal culture and identification, diagnosis of superficial and systemic fungal infections), clinical parasitology (identification of parasitic infections, malaria diagnosis, stool examination), serology and immunology (serological tests for infectious diseases, antibody detection, antigen detection), molecular microbiology (PCR-based diagnostics, nucleic acid amplification tests, molecular typing of microorganisms), and blood culture and sterility testing.

Dr. Kakkar’s role as Head of Microbiology and Infection Control Department involves leadership responsibilities including establishing and maintaining quality standards in the microbiology laboratory, implementing and monitoring infection control programs throughout the hospital, conducting antimicrobial stewardship rounds, collaborating with clinical departments on infection-related issues, managing laboratory operations and staff, ensuring accreditation compliance (NABL, CAP, other quality standards), implementing new diagnostic technologies, and providing consultative services to clinicians on infectious disease diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy.

Her expertise includes interpretation of microbiological culture results, providing guidance on appropriate specimen collection and testing, advising on empirical and targeted antimicrobial therapy, monitoring antimicrobial resistance trends, identifying infection outbreaks early, implementing control measures, and educating healthcare workers on infection prevention best practices.

Dr. Kakkar’s 22 years of experience span the evolution of microbiology from traditional culture methods to advanced molecular diagnostics, from basic infection control to comprehensive antimicrobial stewardship programs, and from manual laboratory techniques to automated systems with artificial intelligence support.

According to Dr. Kakkar, “Microbiology and infection control are the cornerstones of patient safety in healthcare. Accurate, timely microbiological diagnosis guides appropriate treatment, while robust infection prevention programs protect patients, healthcare workers, and the community from healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.” She is technically and administratively very sound and believes in ethical practice with evidence-based microbiological diagnostics and infection control strategies. She ensures that clinicians receive accurate, timely microbiology reports with appropriate interpretation and antimicrobial guidance, and goes the extra mile in educating healthcare teams about infection prevention, rational antibiotic use, and emerging infectious disease threats, ensuring optimal patient outcomes through quality laboratory services and comprehensive infection control programs.