Infectious Diseases
Specialty of Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases physicians provide a predominantly hospital-based service, specialising in the various clinical, laboratory and public health aspects of infectious disease medicine and microbiology. Infectious diseases physicians have extensive expertise in the diagnosis and management of diseases caused by microbial agents. They are also accustomed to dealing with infectious patients in a number of settings, including perioperative, intensive care, and the immunocompromised host. An infectious diseases physician also has expertise in the assessment of non-infective causes of febrile illnesses and other apparent infections.
Infectious diseases physicians have a key role in the management of acute problems and in long-term chronic care of patients, e.g. those suffering from HIV and chronic hepatitis. In this respect, they focus both on the individual patient and the broader community affected by the various infectious agents. Specialists working within this field tend to have a generalist, rather than an organ system-specific, focus.
Specialty of microbiology
The discipline of microbiology involves the use of laboratory techniques to diagnose infectious diseases, recommend antibiotic therapy, and to advise, correlate, coordinate and educate clinicians regarding aspects of the pathogenesis, epidemiology, prevention and management of infection. Clinical microbiologists work in diagnostic medical and pathology laboratories. Their work focuses on the collection, analysis, reporting and interpretation of results, to aid in the diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of infectious diseases. There are opportunities to carry out research in the subspecialties of bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, serology or molecular microbiology.
Advantages of starting a career at TPCH
There is no disadvantage at selection if one has not completed a rotation in Infectious Diseases.
- TPCH offers excellent education in programs such as General Medicine and Respiratory Medicine
- Friendly & support atmosphere
- Approachable Infectious Diseases team who are happy to discuss possible projects & research
Training Overview
Entry requirements to Training Program
- General Registration
- Completion of Basic Physician Training both written and clinical components
- Selection is by a centralised process
Overview of Training Program
There are a number of options for Advanced Training –
1. Advanced Training in Infectious Diseases:
- 24 months in core infectious diseases training settings
- 6 months in a core microbiology training setting
- 6 months in a non-core setting (elective)
2. Advanced Training in Infectious Diseases & Microbiology (Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and Royal College of Pathologists Australasia (RCPA)):
- 24 months in core infectious diseases training settings
- 36 months in core microbiology training settings
3. Other options include:
- Dual specialty training, for example, General Medicine and Infectious Diseases. This involves one (1) year of additional advanced training in General Medicine.
- Concurrent Diploma in Public Health
What rotations are recommended prior to applying for training
- Broad experience in general rotations
- Respiratory medicine
How to improve your chances of selection
- Research
- Completion of Diploma of Public Health or Tropical Medicine
- Volunteer work in Indigenous communities or with an organization such as Médecins sans Frontières
Frequently Asked Questions
The specialty of infectious diseases is based on clinical expertise and the use of cognitive skills, as opposed to the use of more practical procedural or technical skills. Physicians working within this field are required to apply their broad knowledge base from across a range of clinical disciplines. More importantly, an extensive knowledge of the role of microbiology and antimicrobials in the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases is essential.
It is possible to have a break in training or complete part-time. Maximum time to complete training is six (6) years.
Contact us
Medical Education Unit
Email: TPCH-Medical-Education@health.qld.gov.au
Phone: (07) 3139 4221
More information
Dr Alex Chaudhuri, Director of Infectious Diseases