Infectious Disease
Infectious disease specialists focus on many types of infections, including those caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. They also have additional training in immunology (how the body fights infection), epidemiology (how infections spread) and infection control.
How do I know when I need an infectious disease specialist?
Not everyone who has an infectious disease needs an infectious disease specialist. Your general internist can take care of most infections, but sometimes specialized expertise is needed to either diagnose or manage specific infectious diseases. When a fever raises the suspicion that you may have an infection, when an infection is potentially serious, or when problems occur with treatment, it may be necessary to consult an infectious disease specialist.
ID specialists can provide special insight into tests that will be helpful in diagnosing and understanding the infection and preventing recurrent infections. They can often help determine what treatment you need, if any, and whether you should receive antibiotics. You may not require any treatment, but if you do, they may confer with your personal physician about which diagnostic testing and forms of treatment are best suited to your needs. If you are hospitalized for an infection or acquire an infection while hospitalized, ID specialists will follow and help direct your hospital care. In some cases, they may continue to see you after you go home from the hospital.
How does infectious disease specialists work with my primary care physician?
Usually you will be asked to return to the ID specialist for a follow-up visit to review test results and to be sure that your infection has been eliminated. ID specialists may wish to follow up with you until they feel confident that the infection will not recur. You will resume care with your regular physician when your condition has stabilized or is resolved.
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