Infectious Disease

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At SSM Health, our Infectious Disease (ID) specialists provide comprehensive care for patients who need diagnosis and treatment of an infectious process.

Our specialists are first trained in Internal Medicine and then complete an additional 2-3 years of fellowship training in Infectious Diseases. Their expertise includes specialized knowledge about how the body fights infection, how infections spread and the appropriate use of anti-infectives. They can also help you prepare for foreign travel by providing the necessary immunizations and discussing the potential health risks at your destination.

Why did my doctor refer me to infectious disease?

Your doctor might refer you to infectious disease provider for a consultation if:

• Your infection is potentially serious
• There are issues with your treatment
• If special insights into tests are needed
• You have an animal or insect bite

Our infectious disease providers will work closely with referring providers to coordinate consultation, treatment and follow-up.

What conditions are treated by infectious disease specialists?

Our infectious disease specialists provide consultations and patient care for conditions related to:

• Antimicrobial resistance
• Bacteremia
• Cellulitis
• Chronic bone and joint infections
• Community-acquired pneumonia
• Diabetic foot infections
• Foodborne illness
• Genitourinary tract infections
• Hepatitis B/C and other viral diseases
• HIV/AIDS
• Lyme disease / tick-borne diseases

• Myobacterial and fungal infections
• Nosocomial pneumonia
• Organ abscesses
• Orthopedic infections
• Post-operative infections
• Respiratory tract infections
• Returning traveler infections
• Skin and soft tissue infections
• Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Systemic/Invasive fungal infections

What do I need to do before traveling internationally?

Going to Brazil? Jamaica? Japan? South Africa? Australia? Whether you are vacationing, working, volunteering, or living abroad, you should be prepared for possible illnesses and diseases that occur in other regions or countries.

At SSM Health, our travel medicine specialists can help you learn how to avoid certain risk factors, how to best manage any pre-existing conditions, and what precautions need to be taken before you begin your journey. Talk to your primary care provider to learn more or contact a travel medicine specialist today.

Who should receive travel medicine services?

People who benefit from our travel medicine services include:

• All international travelers
• Cruise and adventure travelers
• Peace Corps members
• Disaster relief volunteers and staff
• Foreign-born nationals

• Missionaries and missions volunteers
• Students and school travel groups
• Military and reserve personnel
• Expectant women and children
• People with disabilities or health conditions

Travel medicine services at SSM Health:

Travel medicine is more than just immunizations, although it is the place to go for those necessary shots. Our expert travel medicine staff advise on travel health concerns, so you know what to expect during your trip.

At your appointment, you'll also receive the most current destination-specific recommendations from multiple resources, including updates about disease outbreak information, CDC guidelines and US State Department travel advisories. Our services include:

• Pre-trip health and safety counseling
• Country-specific information regarding disease risk and travel advisories/warnings
• Vaccinations
  • Hepatitis A & B
  • Typhoid
  • Yellow Fever
  • Meningococcal
  • Rabies
  • Japanese B Encephalitis
  • Influenza
  • Routine immunizations
• Travel-related prescriptions
  • Malaria Prophylaxis
  • Travelers' Diarrhea
  • Altitude Illness
  • Motion Sickness
• Safety information for disaster relief volunteers deployed overseas or to affected regions in the United States
• Post-trip health evaluations

Remember to plan ahead to get the most out of travel medicine.

Some immunizations require several weeks prior to travel for full effectiveness, so try to make an appointment six to eight weeks before you leave. If you've missed that timeline, it's still a good idea to make an appointment before your trip.

• Bring your immunization records to the appointment, if available.
• Bring your trip itinerary with you if possible, so that we can make the most appropriate recommendations.

The consultation visit usually lasts 30-60 minutes depending on the number and types of vaccines that a patient receives.