Infectious Diseases Clinic

The programme of Infectious Diseases at Al Jalila Children’s is a world–class diagnostic, treatment, educational and research facility that provides complete management of patients with serious and unusual complicated infections in children and adolescents. It provides the institution with all kinds of infectious disease services such as consultations, inpatient, and outpatient services including the diagnosis and management of organ specific infections (e.g., central nervous system, head and neck, lungs and heart, gastrointestinal system, bone and joints), infections in immunocompromised patients, Kawasaki Disease, tuberculosis, patients with recurrent infections, travel-associated infections, infections with unusual organisms, congenital infections, and infections with antimicrobial resistant pathogens.

Admission

To evaluate, diagnose and provide care to children and adolescents up to 16 years of age with acute and chronic infectious or suspected infectious or having immunologic diseases and/or underlying diseases that predispose to unusual severe infections.

Intensive Care

Provide care to patients in the intensive care setting in conformance with unit policies. Assess, stabilise, and determine disposition of patients with emergent conditions consistent with medical staff policy regarding emergency and consultative call services.

Consultation Services:

The Clinic provides inpatient and outpatient consultation services covering:

• Diagnosis and management of complex paediatric infections such as but not limited to:
• Organ specific infections
• Health acquired infections (HAI)
• Travel associated infections
• Infections with unusual organisms
• Infections with antimicrobial resistant bacteria
• Following up with patients and evaluating response to therapy

Outpatient Infectious Diseases Clinic and Prevention and Infection Control

1  – Oversees the infection control programme

2 – The Infectious Diseases Clinic works hand-in-hand with the Infection Control Unit to:

• Prevent health acquired infections
• Establish a reliable, focused surveillance programme
• Streamlining data management activities
• Analyzing HAI rates
• Benchmarking data with international data
• Database to monitor trends, detect and investigate outbreak and eliminate sources
• Prevent infections with specific vaccines, drugs where indicated
• Monitor and control antimicrobial resistance by implementing and adhering to the existing clinical practice guidelines and isolation policies
• Oversee infection related issues relevant to employee health
• Educate staff regarding infection control principles
• Identify opportunities for performance improvement and facilitating performance improvement projects with concerned parties
• Write and periodically review infection control policies
• Carry outbreak investigations when an outbreak is identified

Education

The Division is actively involved in:

• making and following the implementation of Clinical Pathways and Protocols for various infections
• medical staff education regarding issues related to infectious disease as well as infection control principles

Research

• Research studies to address specific issues related to infectious disease
• Involvement in research with other departments in issues related to infectious disease, prevention of infections and health acquired infections

Antimicrobial Stewardship programme

Establishment of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme to achieve the following goals:

• Prevent resistance
• Improve antimicrobial use
• Reduce costs
• Reduce adverse effects
• Decrease length of stay
• Improve patient care

Public and Community Service

Provide education to the public about issues related to:

• Infections and measures to prevent and control communicable diseases
• Vaccinations
• Proper use of antibiotics