Patients with suspected or detected infectious disease receive specialist care:
- As inpatients at the infectious diseases ward
- From the hospital-wide infectious diseases consultation services
- At the infectious disease outpatient clinic
Infectious diseases ward:
Patients are admitted from the emergency department (ZAM) or after direct contact with our department. The staff on our ward is, together with wards in all the other clinical divisions of the Department of Medicine, responsible for treatment of patients admitted from the emergency department (ZAM) and treats patients with specific infectious diseases.
Infectious Diseases Consultation Services: Our consultants directly serve patients in n departments and divisions throughout the university hospital and assist other health care institutions by providing telephone consultations. The activities include antimicrobial stewardship programs implemented in cooperation with the hospital pharmacy and clinical staff.
Infectious disease outpatient clinic: At the infectious disease outpatient clinic, patients receive follow-up treatment after discharge. Patients who are referred by other physicians are examined and treated (e.g., fever in returning travellers or patients with HIV) Patients with infectious diseases emergencies are cared for in cooperation with the emergency department (ZAM). Specific treatments of infectious diseases (e.g., outpatient antimicrobial intravenous therapies) are administered in collaboration with the day hospital at the Department of Internal Medicine. Currently our services do not include travel medicine consultations BEFORE a trip. If you have questions on vaccinations or other preparations for travel abroad, please contact the vaccination clinic at the Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine of the Medical University of Graz or another vaccination clinic.
Microbiology lab: The microbiology laboratory of the Department of Internal Medicine is well established at the Division of Infectious Diseases and integrated into the Austrian (AURES) and European (EARS-Net) antimicrobial resistance surveillance networks. Regular local epidemiological laboratory data analysis and resistance statistics provide the basis for high-quality antimicrobial therapy. The short distances of sample transport and immediate electronic and direct communication of relevant lab results increase the quality of treatment of patients, for example leading to improved survival rates and fewer recurrences (relapses)in patients with“Staphylococus aureus bacteremia”(“blood poisoning” by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus).
The uniqueness and the added value of our division are the result of the symbiosis between patient care, research and education. The division is jointly operated by the Medical University of Graz and the Styrian Hospital Association (KAGes). This interdisciplinary cooperation between both providers at the University Hospital Graz site is also reflected on our website. More information on patient care can be found at the University Hospital Graz website.