Infectious Diseases

About the Specialty

Department of Infectious Diseases is a super speciality wing of medicine with specialised focus on correct etiological diagnosis, comprehensive evidence-based management and prevention of all sorts of infectious conditions.

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The first of its kind and the only one in Rajasthan, the dedicated department has all the cutting-edge novel diagnostic technologies, latest antimicrobial agents and preventive vaccines for management of infections. The team has doctors trained to top-notch levels from esteemed institutions in the country and are experienced in dealing with the most challenging cases.

India being most populus country in the world, faces most significant challenge in terms of communicable diseases as was clearly visible during SARS-Covid-19 pandemic. Indeed, infectious illnesses make the major share of morbidity and mortality here and currently, only a few hospitals in the nation have dedicated department for management of Infectious diseases.

At Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jaipur, we strive to provide extensive and best management for all types of infections with patient centred approach. The activities also expand to provide Infection prevention services as well as post infection rehabilitations.

HOD Message

HOD Massege

Dr. Yash Khatod

Assistant Professor and Head

Department of Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases is still an emerging field in India and the country face enormous challenges for its largest population and huge burden of communicable diseases.

The development of this field is a need of an hour in the backdrop of increased incidences of infections due multidrug resistant organisms, global pandemics, newer emerging infections and increased infection-susceptible population like elderly people, post organ-transplant cases and cancer patients. The establishment of a department dedicated for Infectious diseases at Mahatma Gandhi hospital, Jaipur is a path breaking step and the first one in Rajasthan state in this regard. We strive to provide quality care with highest standards to prevent and manage all kinds of infectious conditions based on correct etiological diagnosis and solid evidence-based practices.

 

Specialty Clinics

Travel medicine clinic

Travel industry has been booming since the past few years. Except for a few years lost during Covid-19 pandemic, the industry has seen exponential growth. Each year, a large number of Indians visit abroad for leisure, work, visiting family or study purposes. The communicable diseases profile and screening requirements for infections is quite variable for different countries. At the travel medicine clinic we provide comprehensive counselling regarding medical and other aspects of travelling outside India. We also address the Infections in returning travellers and medical needs of foreign tourists and non-residents Indians visiting India.

Sexually Transmitted diseases (STD) clinic

The clinic provides all inclusive, single window medical counselling for sexually transmitted diseases including HIV with profound proficiency, confidentiality and compassion.

Scope of Department

  • Community acquired non complicated infections- Any Pneumonia, Urinary tract infections, Gastro-intestinal infections, Neuro infections (Meningitis/Encephalitis/ Space-occupying lesions), Endocarditis, Sepsis, All Viral infections Hepatitis B and C , Parasitic infections, Fungal infections.
  • Community acquired complicated infections- Any Recurrent infections, non-resolving infections, worsening infections.
  • Hospital acquired infections- Hospital/Ventilator associated infections, Central line infections, Surgical site infections, Catheter associated infection, Clostridium difficile infections, All infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms.
  • Prolonged and unexplained fever – Fever of Unknown origin (FUO).
  • Sexually transmitted diseases/HIV medicine.
  • Transplant infectious diseases- Infection in solid or bone marrow transplant cases.
  • Infections in cancer patients.
  • All types of Tuberculosis including non-tuberculosis mycobacterium.
  • Emerging/Epidemic causing infections- SARS Covid-19, Chandipur virus, Melioidosis etc.
  • Tropical Infections – Dengue, Malaria, Typhoid, Brucellosis, Leishmaniasis, Chikungunya, Zika etc.
  • Invasive and systemic Fungal Infections – Mucormycosis, Aspergillosis, Candidiasis, Endemic mycosis etc.
  • Travel medicine and Infections in returning travellers.

Core Competencies

Clinical competence

Our team members are well trained in core principles of Infectious disease which include thorough history taking, detailed physical examination, compassionate patient centred care, infection control and hygiene practices, device care, treatment administration and nutritional care.

Technical Competence

Our team has profound procedural skills like appropriate sample collection for cultures and microbiological evaluation, ordering correct advanced or conventional investigations and their interpretation.

Public Health & Epidemiology

The health care personnel are part of hospital infection control and antibiotic stewardship teams and are instrumental in prevention of multi drug resistance (MDR) organism infections, outbreak investigations, Infection containment, contact tracing and preventive strategies.

Medical research and publication

Infectious diseases is still an emerging branch in India and we are involved in conducting more clinical and quality research for regional evidence generation and publication of the results in journals of international repute to bridge the gap in knowledge.

Communication & Leadership

Effective communication with patients, families, and other healthcare providers, Interdisciplinary teamwork in patient care and leadership in policy-making & guideline development for infections are the key activities in the department.

Ethical & Professional Behaviour

Each member in the department is guided by high ethical code of conduct and are extremely professional in dealing with patient and respective family members. Privacy of patients is kept as paramount importance and all decisions for case management are in accordance with national and international guidelines.

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Aims and Objectives

To establish the centre of excellence for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all sorts of Infectious diseases with highest standards and modern resources for benefit of the society.

To develop academic atmosphere for research, evidence generation and regional guideline formulation to guide the health care system in the relatively neglected filed of Infectious diseases.

To promote the innovations in the field of infectious diseases to establish self-reliance.

Treatment

Our experts formulate highly individualised treatment plan for all sorts of infections be it bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic in nature. We provide safest and most effective antibiotics and other antimicrobials based on clinical and microbiological profile of the cases. We follow the strict principals of antimicrobial stewardship by providing right antibiotics in right dose and duration to the right patients and where we minimalize the use of broad spectrum (heavy) antibiotics to prevent the serious adverse effects whenever possible.

  • Empiric antimicrobials – For critical patients
  • Prophylactic/Pre-emptive treatment – For cases with risk factors
  • Definitive treatment – Based on microbiological evidences and culture reports
  • Non-Antibiotic treatment for bacterial infections
  • Adult Immunisation and preventive services
  • OPAT – Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy
  • Therapeutic drug monitoring
  • Management of adverse drug reactions to antimicrobials

Procedures

Infectious diseases screening – Mountex test/ IGRA, nasal swab cultures, rectal swab cultures, Lateral flow assays and other point of care testing.

Microbiological sample collection
  • Blood cultures
  • Phlebotomy for serology
  • Lumbar puncture
  • Broncho alveolar lavage
  • Interventional radiology guided / Surgical tissue sampling

Invasive sampling is conducted with the help of respective department collaborations by trained personnel.

Facilities

  • OPD services
  • Speciality clinics
  • Vaccination room
  • Point of care Laboratory
  • 24/7 Advanced Microbiology lab
  • 24/7 Advanced Infectious diseases molecular lab
  • 10 bedded male and female wards
  • Private wards in SRCC building
  • Medical ICU for critical cases

Our Associated Doctors

FAQs

The infections have highly varied presentations and usually but not necessarily heralded by fever. Other symptoms depend upon the site of infection-like cough and shortness of breath for lungs, burning sensation while passing urine and flank pain for urinary tract, altered sensorium and confusion for brain etc. Fever may be absent and only vague symptoms like behavioural change, malaise, loss of appetite reduced urine output may be the only features in few conditions like extreme of ages, immunocompromised state like cancer patients, cases with sepsis etc.

The department deals with all kinds of infections from as trivial as seasonal cold to as complicated as infections with septic shock. But conditions where ID consultation is highly recommended are infections in cases with cancers, organ transplants, bone marrow transplants, HIV and other immunocompromised state; Cases with recurrent infections or worsening or non-responding infections; Infections in ICU settings; rare or emerging infections; infections in returning travellers; invasive fungal infections; severe infections like endocarditis, central nervous system infections, necrotising soft tissue infections, emphysematous infections and infections with sepsis/septic shock; prolonged unexplained fever etc. The ID consultation can help in streamlining the antibiotics/antimicrobial therapy by advising best option available for specific case with minimal adverse effects to the patient.

Antibiotics should never be consumed without consultation of a doctor. Antibiotics are double edged swords and if not prescribed wisely they can harm the body in many ways. Firstly, antibiotics can kill the normal (good) bacterial flora of the body which perform many vital functions necessary for good health like digestion, prevention from other bacterial and fungal infections and generation of certain vitamins. Second, the chemical structure of antibiotics can cause sever toxicity in the body which can be life threatening in some cases. Third, non-judicious use of antibiotics can lead to the development of resistant bacteria which may not be killed by the same or even higher antibiotics if needed in future. Lastly, prior antibiotic exposure before consultation hinders the identification of infectious pathogen (Bacteria) and diagnosis of disease due to reduced sensitivity of a diagnostic test.

Barring few trivial and seasonal infections (where antibiotic might not be necessary at all), it is highly recommended that correct diagnosis of the cause of infections be made. It serves many purposes. First, It help clinician to decide most effective and narrowest spectrum (light) antibiotics with minimal side effects while reducing the overuse of broad spectrum (Heavy) antibiotics. Second, it gives confidence that right condition is being treated and in case when the symptoms of the are not resolved, there is no confusion regarding diagnosis and therapy can be appropriately modified. Third, it helps create epidemiological data which is utilised for the management of other cases and formulations of policy.

Yes, there are multiple vaccines that are recommended for adult population with excellent safety and efficacy. They help in prevention of some very serious infections and reduce the economic burden of medical treatment as well. All adults are eligible for some or the other vaccines and should consult the nearest Infectious diseases expert for further information.

Infectious diseases experts are well trained to give advice regarding medical aspects of travelling. This specific branch is called travel medicine. An ID expert can help plan the necessary vaccination, prophylaxis, medical insurance and other precautions. The ID experts are also trained to tackle the infectious condition in returning travellers which is one of the most common ailments in such population.

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