Infectious diseases
Where to find this service
What we do
The Infectious Diseases Department is a team of specialists who diagnose, treat and manage illnesses caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi.
Our service provides expert advice and care for patients with infection-related problems, both in hospital (inpatients) and through outpatient clinics at Footscray Hospital.
We work closely with other hospital departments to support the investigation and management of infections.
Our services
- Clinical care of patients
We treat people with infection-related problems, both in a hospital setting and through our outpatient clinics.
- Safe use of antibiotics
We run a program to reduce the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, helping to prevent antibiotic resistance and ensure effective treatment for patients.
- Infection prevention and control support
Our physicians support Western Health’s Infection Prevention team by helping reduce the spread of infections between patients, staff and visitors.
- Education and training
We provide education on infectious diseases, antibiotics and infection control to medical students from the University of Melbourne, as well as doctors, nurses and allied health staff at Western Health.
- Research and quality improvement
We carry out research and clinical audits to improve how infections are managed to continually enhance the care we provide to patients.
Referrals
We accept referrals from GPs and health practitioners for our outpatient clinics at Footscray Hospital. All referrals should be directed to our Head of Unit, Dr Marion Kainer.
For more information on referring a patient, please see our referral guidelines.
Contact
If you have an enquiry about our department or any of our services, please contact us through the Footscray Hospital switchboard on (03) 8435 6666.
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