Infectious Disease
An infectious disease specialist can help you prevent or recover from illnesses caused by a virus, bacteria, fungi or parasites. You may see this type of doctor at St. Bernards Medical Center or St. Bernards Infectious Disease Clinic if you experience:
- An infection that doesn’t respond to antibiotics
- Repeated infections
- Infections related to devices placed in your body, like a pacemaker or an artificial joint
- Bone infections
- An infected wound
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- An unexplained fever or other symptoms of an infectious illness
Diagnosis
Because we have in-depth knowledge of infectious diseases, your primary care provider may refer you to us for help diagnosing your condition. Your infectious disease specialist will ask questions to learn as much as possible about your health history, environment and lifestyle, so we can find the cause of your symptoms.
Treatment Tailored to You
We’ll take care of you as long as you need us—whether that’s one visit or years of follow-up appointments. Depending on your condition, you may receive antibiotics, antivirals or other medications in the form of pills or as fluids given through a vein (IV).
Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully, especially if you receive antibiotics. By taking your medications exactly as ordered, you’ll help prevent bacteria from becoming resistant to treatment.
Vaccines for Travelers
If you plan to travel to a foreign country, you may need certain vaccines to stay healthy and avoid bringing contagious diseases home to others. Call your doctor before scheduling a trip because some immunizations:
- Require multiple doses over a few months
- Take a few weeks to start working
St. Bernards Infectious Disease Clinic may also prescribe antibiotics to help prevent bacterial infections while you’re abroad.
