Infectious Diseases
Who we are
The PCH Infectious Diseases Department provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services for children and young people who have, or who are at higher risk of, infectious diseases.
Conditions we manage
Our staff are skilled and experienced in caring for children with conditions such as:
- Tuberculosis
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Complicated or resistant infections
- Issues relating to immunisation.
Services we provide
- Direct consultations with inpatients and outpatients
- Collaboration with colleagues in other medical teams who are involved with the patient's care, such General Paediatrics, Paediatric Critical Care, Oncology and Haematology, Immunology and Refugee Health Service
- A comprehensive Children’s Antimicrobial Management Program (ChAMP) to optimise the treatment of children with diagnosed or suspected infection through guideline development, inpatient review and phone advice
- Active involvement in the Hospital in the Home (HiTH) home visitation program
- Extensive consultation services and telephone advice across Western Australia to help doctors who are managing children with infectious diseases
- Close links to laboratory-based microbiology services provided by PathWest
- Clinical input into infection control and prevention strategies
- Internationally recognised infection and immunisation research.
Outpatient clinics
Our Department runs four outpatient clinics, which are structured across a fortnightly rotation. Urgent referrals are scheduled into any available spaces.
General Infectious Diseases Clinic
This clinic provides assessment, diagnosis and management for infections that are:
- chronic or recurrent
- acquired perinatally (before or shortly after birth)
- difficult to treat.
Combined Immunodeficiency Clinic
This clinic reviews patients who require input from both infectious diseases physicians and immunologists. This includes young people with HIV infections or exposure, as well as those with specific primary immunodeficiency. Our consultant-led clinic is supported by the clinic nurse consultant, social workers and advanced trainees in infectious diseases and immunology.
Tuberculosis Clinic
This clinic is offered offsite through the WA Tuberculosis Control Program at the Anita Clayton Centre in central Perth, where Infectious Diseases consultants and advanced trainees provide medical support for the testing, diagnosis, treatment and case management of tuberculosis.
Stan Perron Immunisation Service
Immunisation is a safe and effective way of providing protection against harmful diseases.
A comprehensive immunisation service is now available to all children and their families attending Perth Children's Hospital (PCH). The service is comprised of specialist paediatricians and senior immunisation nurse specialists. It provides an opportunity for children and families to get routine vaccinations, advice and education regarding current immunisation recommendations and to meet the vaccination needs of medically at-risk children.
For more information on the Stan Perron Immunisation Centre, the Specialist Immunisation Clinic and the seasonal influenza immunisation program, see Stan Perron Immunisation Service.
Referrals
Please use the Central Referral System for the General Infectious Diseases Clinic.
Referrals to the Combined Immunodeficiency Clinic are arranged through the Immunodeficiency Clinical Nurse Consultant.
Referrals for the Specialist Immunisation Clinic may be sent via the Central Referral System or emailed to PCH Immunisation services.