Infectious Diseases
USC Infectious Diseases has internationally recognized experts in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with HIV, fungal infections, tuberculosis, bone and joint infections, and other communicable and non-communicable infectious diseases. USC Infectious Diseases provides both inpatient and outpatient consultations for all infectious disorders and provides travel medicine services.
HIV/AIDS
The USC Infectious Diseases has comprehensive clinical programs for diagnosis, management, and research involving patients in all disease stages of HIV. Several of our faculty members have directed the development of the latest HIV therapies as well as therapies for the prevention and treatment of the secondary infectious and malignant complications that result from immune suppression caused by HIV. Patients benefit from the latest diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions, including access to the newest experimental drugs through clinical trials.
Fungal Infections
An accurate diagnosis is critical to the treatment of fungal infections. Our infectious disease specialists are experienced with diagnosing and treating these diseases. Examples of fungal infections include coccidiomycosis, also known as “Valley Fever,” which is endemic to Los Angeles and easily treated if properly diagnosed, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, which is often misdiagnosed as asthma. Our physicians also specialize in the fungal complications associated with HIV, including cryptococcus and histoplasmosis. Several members of the division are actively conducting research and are involved in the development of newer and safer therapies for the treatment of life-threatening deep fungal infections.
Tuberculosis
USC Infectious Diseases’ faculty members are widely renowned for their participation in U.S. Public Health Service studies to develop new therapies to prevent and treat tuberculosis and to study the way these therapies interact with other medications. Tuberculosis and other mycobacterial organisms play an important role in medical illnesses. These organisms do not confine themselves to any one subgroup of our population. If sufficiently exposed, any individual can develop symptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis. Bronchiectasis, a chronic lung disorder, is often complicated by an organism related to tuberculosis. Our infectious disease specialists are expert at suspecting, diagnosing, and treating these infections.
Bone and Joint Infections
Patients who have had artificial joints implanted are especially subject to infectious complications. The physicians of the USC Infectious Diseases provide evaluations and treatment for these complex bone and joint infections, which are managed in conjunction with the USC Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Bone infections such as osteomyelitis and joint infections like septic arthritis, can occur in other patients as well. Our team of infectious disease and orthopedic specialists are expert at making these diagnoses and are often referred these patients from distant locations where such expertise is unavailable.
Other Infectious Diseases
USC infectious disease physicians are at the forefront of the infectious illnesses that we hear about in the news and are often asked to serve on expert panels to determine public policy in these areas. They are widely recognized for their expertise in infectious diseases such as West Nile Virus, encephalitis, meningitis, SARS, heart valve infections, sexually transmitted diseases, transplant infections, pneumonia, and food-borne infections. These physicians also serve as USC’s hospital epidemiologists. In this capacity, they are called upon to ensure that our operating rooms and hospital wards are kept in aseptic condition.