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Infectious Diseases

Infectious disease service providers play a crucial role in the Baptist Health system by specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases.

These skilled medical professionals possess expertise in dealing with a wide range of infectious agents, including:

  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Fungi
  • Parasites

We provide comprehensive evaluations of patients with suspected or confirmed infections, which often involve conducting thorough laboratory tests, medical imaging, and detailed patient histories.

Our Approach to Patient Care

Infectious disease providers are adept at formulating tailored treatment plans, incorporating the appropriate use of medications and other therapies, while also considering factors such as drug resistance and patient-specific needs.

Addressing infections promptly and effectively can reduce the risk of complications, hospitalizations, and even mortality. Moreover, infection prevention and control help contain outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations, particularly in settings like hospitals, nursing homes, and community health centers.

Collaborating with other healthcare professionals, within the Baptist Health Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, infectious disease providers serve as valuable resources in guiding treatment decisions and educating and guiding physicians and patients on the proper use of antimicrobials to optimize patient outcomes. Overall, infectious disease services contribute significantly to safeguarding public health, advancing medical knowledge, and enhancing the quality of patient care in the face of infectious diseases.

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♪ A vaccine is a substance that stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies against a specific disease. Once a person is vaccinated, your body generates immunity to that disease without you having to get the disease in the first place. Vaccines are extremely important. They prevent sickness and death from vaccine-preventable illnesses.

They also decrease your chances of spreading infectious disease. Everybody six months of age or older should get the influenza vaccine. Older adults or individuals who have underlying health conditions are at a severe risk for developing complications of influenza, including death. The influenza vaccine not only reduces your risk of getting infected, it also decreases the severity of illness in those who are already infected.

The influenza vaccine is an annual vaccine and should be given during the fall and winter during flu season. Baptist Health Outpatient clinics will offer the most common vaccines. And if you're an inpatient in the hospital, we will also offer you the influenza and pneumonia or pneumococcal vaccine. Most medicines cure or treat disease.

Vaccines prevent diseases, and they are the single most safest and efficient way of preventing infectious disease that are currently available to us. ♪ [music]

Preventing Infectious Disease

Doctor ANNA HART, MD discusses the importance of vaccines, describing how they work to prevent sickness and even death from illnesses such as influenza and pneumonia.