Types Of Infectious Disease

• Viral Infections

Viruses are small infectious agents that can only replicate inside the cells of other living organisms. Viral infections are among the most common infections in humans and are responsible for many diseases, including the common cold, flu, and warts. Some viral infections, such as HIV and Ebola, can be deadly.

• Bacterial Infections

Bacterial infections are a type of infectious disease caused by bacteria. They can cause a wide range of symptoms, from mild to life-threatening. Some common symptoms of bacterial infections include fever, chills, fatigue, and nausea. Treatment for bacterial infections usually involves antibiotics.

• Fungal Infections

Like bacteria, there are many different fungi. They live on and in your body. When your fungi get overgrown or when harmful fungi get into your body through your mouth, your nose or a cut in your skin, you can get sick.

• Parasitic infections. 

Parasites use the bodies of other organisms to live and reproduce. Parasites include worms (helminths) and some single-celled organisms (protozoa).

• Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs/prion diseases). 

TSEs are caused by prions — faulty proteins that cause other proteins in your body, usually in your brain, to become faulty as well. Your body is unable to use these proteins or get rid of them, so they build up and make you sick. Prions are an extremely rare cause of infectious diseases.

Services Offered By IDP

The Division of Infectious Disease offers the following services:

• Comprehensive assessment and medical treatment

• Patient/family education

• Home healthcare coordination

• Consultation with a patient’s primary physician

• Infusion therapy services

Patient Care

IDP is committed to providing high quality, patient-centered care across the spectrum of infectious diseases and conditions in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

IDP philosophy promotes respectful, evidence-based and innovative practices that utilize the strengths of multidisciplinary teams and leverage the scientific power of physician researchers.