Dr. (Mrs). V. Ambalavanar

Dr. (Mrs). V. Ambalavanar

MBBS (Jaffna), MSc in Clinical Microbiology (London), MPhil (Peradeniya)

Head and Senior lecturer Gr (I),
Department of Microbiology,
Faculty of Medicine,
University of Jaffna

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Positions
Qualifications
Publications
Research Interests
Head, Department of  Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna December 2022 – to date
Senior lecturer Gr I, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna August 2017 – to date
Senior Lecturer Gr II, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna August 2012 – August 2017
Lecturer (Probationary), Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna March 2001 – March 2009
Medical Officer (Out Patient Department), Teaching Hospital Jaffna November 1999 – February 2001
Resident House Officer (Medicine), Teaching Hospital Jaffna June 1999 – November 1999
Intern Medical Officer (Surgery/Pediatrics), Teaching Hospital Jaffna June 1998 – June 1999
Demonstrator, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna April 1998 – June 1998

Publications

  1. Givashanth T, Thiviyani J, Jathugiry B, Ekanayake EMDN, Pathirana DPHD, Kumar R, Valarmathy A., Gender-based differences in career plans of House Officers and Residential House Officers at Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. Proceedings of the 9 th Undergraduate Research Symposium 2025: 57
  2. Wijethunga WADDK, Kulasooria JGIP, Acshyan B, Rankothge RGRC, Rahuman KRA, Ambalavanar V, Jagathesan N. Knowledge on and attitude towards antibiotic prescription for acute infections and associated factors among junior doctors working at the Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. Proceedings of the 9th Undergraduate Research Symposium 2025: 59
  3. Thilukshikka K, Anuruddha PAN, Spelman Croos MV, Erandi R, Pravina S, Kumar R, Balagobi B, Rajanthi R, Ambalavanar V,. Antibiotic Sensitivity pattern of uropathogens in hospitalised patients at Teaching Hospital Jaffna. Jaffna Medical journal, Vol 36, No. 2, Dec 2024: 20
  4. Risafa JF, Kayaline S, Arun KC, Dissanayake DMRP, Simra EF, Kumar R, Ambalavanar V Challenges with accommodation among medical students of the University of Jaffna.  Proceedings of the 7th Undergraduate Research Symposium 2024: 40
  5. R.Keerthana, K. Piriyangan, M. Krishni, V. Ambalavanar, R. Kumar,. Knowledge and self-reported practice of standard precautions and associated factors among doctors and nurses in the four major specialty units of Teaching Hospital Jaffna. Proceedings of the 3rd Undergraduate Research Symposium 2020: 59
  6. Piyumi M, Hirushi M, Kumari WN, Kumar R, Ambalavanar V. Knowledge and attitudes towards gender-based discrimination (GBD) and associated factors among medical students of University of Jaffna. Proceeding of the 2ndUndergraduate Research Symposium 12th & 13th December 2019:56
  7. Sakashan, S., Surenthirakumaran, R., Ambalavanar, V., Self-administration of antibiotics and factors influencing on it among the patients with respiratory symptoms attending primary care hospitals in Nallur. Proceedings of Undergraduate Research Symposium-2018: 42
  8. Mithuran, E., Upendran, N., Sivarajah, N., Ambalavanar, V., Incidence of sharp     injury among doctors at Teaching Hospital Jaffna in two months’ period, previous exposure, associated factors and their awareness of consequence and immediate management. Proceedings of Undergraduate Research Symposium-2018: 80

Ongoing researches

  1. Contamination of White Coats and Scrub suits of medical students of Jaffna Medical Faculty: Pattern, Causes & Perception

Presentations

  1. Knowledge, attitude, practice, available facilities and influencing factors of hand hygiene among doctors and nursing officers in the surgical wards of Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. Presented in the SRI LANKA SURGICAL CONGRESS 2024 organized by the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka
  2. Sumatha K, Ambalavanar V and Premakrishna Prevalence of Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae and their sensitivity pattern in perineal Region among patients in Intensive Care Units, Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. Presented in the Jaffna Medical Association Annual Scientific Session 2017.
  3. Prevalence of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase producing coliforms, their sensitivity pattern and risk factors among suspected urinary tract infection patients in the OPD, Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa. Sathiesswaran, Valarmathy Ambalavanar, M.M Gunawardane and A.N Arulpragasam,. 2015.

Student research supervision

 Year 2026/2027

  1. Knowledge on and attitude towards blood specimen collection, storage and transport for bacterial culture and associated factors among House Officers, Residential House Officers and Senior Medical Officers at the Teaching Hospital Jaffna, B.M. Malindu Priyanath (2023/FM/020), A.W.A.D. Dinumi Sugandhini (2023/FM/003), Kamal Rashvika (2023/FM/062), J.M. Charitha Sandun (2023/FM/052), M.R. Sandeepani Dhananjana (2023/FM/081)

 Year 2023/2024

  1. Knowledge on and attitude towards antibiotic prescription for acute infections and associated factors among junior doctors working at the Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. Wijethunga WADDK, Kulasooria JGIP, Acshyan B, Rankothge RGRC, Rahuman KRA, Ambalavanar V, Jagathesan N.
  2. Gender-based differences in career plans of House Officers and Residential House Officers at Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. Givashanth T, Thiviyani J, Jathugiry B, Ekanayake EMDN, Pathirana DPHD, Kumar R, Valarmathy A.,

 Year 2022/2023

  1. Types of bacterial contamination and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns of wrist threads worn by students of faculty of allied health sciences, university of Jaffna and its influencing factors. RMLTN. Wijerathna (Index number: 2019/MLS/31), H.S. Anuththara (2018/MLS/55)

Year 2019/2020

  1. Knowledge and Practice of Standard Precautions and associated factors among Doctors and Nurses in the Major four Speciality Units of Teaching Hospital Jaffna. Keerthana Raveendranathan (2015/FM/078), Kirushnapillai Piriyangan (2015/FM/074), Krishni Manoharan (2015/FM/055)

Year 2018/2019

  1. Rate of group a streptococcal pharyngitis among children with sore throat attending outpatient department of teaching hospital Jaffna, the sensitivity pattern and the influencing factors. M.M.S.M Premarathna(2013/MLS/002)
  2. Prevalence of acinetobacter spp in nasal and axillary regions among patients in intensive care units, teaching hospital, Jaffna and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern Mr. G .G. Tharanga Dhanushka Bandara (Registration No:- 2013/MLS/001)
  3. Knowledge and Attitudes towards Gender-Based Discrimination (GBD) and associated Sociodemographic and Environmental Factors among Medical Students of University of Jaffna. K.G.Piyumi Madhuwanthi (2014/FM/026), L.N.N.Hirushima Liyanage(2014/FM/061), N.G.W.M.S.N.Kumari Wijesekara(2014/FM/128)
  4. Adaptability and influence of personal and academic factors on it among first to third year medical students of university of Jaffna. H.U.L.I. Piyarathna (2014/FM/134), S.A.Wanniarachchi (2014/FM/136), P.K.H.I.Madushani (2014/FM/132)

Year 2015/2016

Prevalence of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterbacteriaceae in perineal region among patients in intensive care unit, Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. -2016, Sumatha K (MLS)

 Year 2017/2018

The levels and types of bacterial contamination of writing pens used by students of Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna and its influencing factors. H.F.Hasana (2013/MLS/005)

 Year 2016/2017

  1. Incidence of sharp injury among doctors at Teaching hospital Jaffna in two months period, associated factors and their awareness of consequence and immediate management. Mr.E.Mithuran (2013/FM/062), Mr.N.Upendran (2013/FM/120) Medical students
  2. MRSA contamination of mobile phones of students of Faculty of Medicine, University  of Jaffna, doing appointment at teaching hospital Jaffna, its sensitivity pattern and influencing factors. U. Sinthuja (2013/MLS/004)
  3. The Quality of sputum samples from Medical wards processed in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, teaching Hospital Jaffna and The Influencing Factors. -2017 Isuru kasunjith Madusanka Rathnayake (2012/MLS/010)

Year 2015/2016

  1. Completion of BLOOD CULTURE REQUEST FORMS REACHING MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY, TEACHING HOSPITAL, JAFFNA AND INFLUENCING HEALTH SYSTEM RELATED FACTORS. Miss.A. Shubanky (2011/FM/003), Miss.M. Sathvika  (2011/FM/007)
  2. INCIDENCE AND PATTERN OF URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS BEFORE AND AFTER ENDOSCOPIC UROLOGICAL PROCEDURES, THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILES AND THE ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG UROLOGY PATIENTS IN TEACHING HOSPITAL, JAFFNA. B. Nirosheney (2011/MLS/016)

Year 2014/2015

  1. Prevalence of ESBL and AmpC producing coliforms among clinically suspected urinary tract infection patients in medical wards and ICU, Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. Miss. R. Kalyani(2009/MLS/05)
  2. COMPARISON OF DIRECT AND CONCENTRATED ACID FAST SMEAR IN IDENTIFYING MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS IN SPUTUM AT CHEST HOSPITAL OF JAFFNA Mr.A.Johngithan (2007/MLS/03)
  3. Determining the types and ABST pattern of Bacteria Causing Exacerbation of COPD among Patients Admitted to Medical Wards, Teaching Hospital Jaffna Amith Pushpa Kumara (MLS)

Year 2013/2014

  1. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Attendants and Influencing Factors on the Risk of Occupational Exposure to Biological Hazards in Teaching Hospital, Jaffna T Sivamaran (2009/FM/061), C Partheepan (2010/FM/052)
  2. Prevalence of MRSA and its influencing factors among pre-operative patients in GENERAL SURGICAL WARDS of teaching hospital, Jaffna. Sarannija Sevatkodiyon, JenaneJeyaratnam

 

  • Infection prevention and control
  • Antibiotic use and resistance
  • Gender issues
  • Student affaires