The Division of Infectious Disease provides state-of-the-art, comprehensive and compassionate care to infants, children, and their families with infectious diseases. The division annually has 8,400 patient visits and is the major referral center in the region for infectious disease. The division also develops public health management plans and options for prevention of these diseases.
Nationally and internationally renowned faculty members actively participate in both teaching and research in infectious disease and epidemiology at Children’s and the George Washington University School of Medicine and Public Health. Faculty members are dually board certified in pediatrics and pediatric infectious disease. Several faculty members participate in NIH committees and assist in the development of national infectious disease guidelines. During the Anthrax scare in 2001, Children’s National was the only pediatric facility to develop a pediatric anthrax action plan.
Physicians provide specialized clinical care to patients with infectious diseases, and have additional responsibilities in directing various programs. The division offers the following services:
Infectious Disease Consultation Service: Provides evaluation and treatment recommendations for care of immunocompetent and immunodeficient children with the entire spectrum of infectious diseases on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.
Hospital Epidemiology Program: provides surveillance, prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections and molecular level research on epidemiologic aspects of infection.
HIV Special Immunology Program: Provides comprehensive program for children at-risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Provides professional and public education and advocacy efforts concerning children with HIV infection or exposed to HIV. Develops and participates in research programs in the bio-medical, psychological, and ethical aspects of infectious diseases and HIV infection.
Infectious Disease Fellowship Program: The Division of Infectious Disease sponsors two joint fellowship training programs with the Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and the National Institutes of Health.
