Pediatric Infectious Diseases is a consultative service, in which we interact with all divisions in the department and assist in the management of children with a variety of underlying medical problems. Most consultations involve hospitalized patients, but there are general infectious disease and HIV/AIDS clinics in which patients are managed. Medical students can elect to work in these clinics under supervision of the fellows and faculty. The elective rotation is open to third and fourth year medical students and pediatric residents, the later being given more autonomy because of their greater clinical experience. Visitors from other medical schools and residency training programs are welcome.
The goals for the elective rotation:
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Develop differential diagnoses for common pediatric infectious disease problems and learn appropriate management strategies for these diseases.
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Become familiar with appropriate laboratory tests for bacterial, viral and fungal infections and understand the basis for interpretation of results.
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Learn appropriate antibiotic management for common community-acquired infections in infants and children.
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Develop an understanding of antibiotic usage and resistance in order to understand resistance patterns of clinical relevance.
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Develop an appreciation of hospital epidemiology and public health preventive measures in pediatric infectious diseases.
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Principles of routes of transmission and preventive precautions
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Understanding which diseases must be reported to the county health department.
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Familiarity with web sites that may be consulted for the most up-to-date information.
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Immunizations: scientific basis for currently recommended vaccination issues, VAERS, etc.
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Blood/body fluid exposure prevention.
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Case management/discharge planning for patients with infections requiring prolonged courses of antimicrobial therapy.
Scheduled Activities
Students and residents workup the new consultations and reevaluate their old patients every morning and present the cases to the fellows and attending physician at the daily conference followed by patient rounds by the team. The fellows have prepared a series of informal teaching sessions for students and residents on the elective and these are presented several times each week.
M Tu Th F 9:15 AM Intake Conference - OPTIONAL
Location: Doctors Dining Room CMC
M Tu Th F 10:00 AM Consultation Rounds
Location: Renal Conference Room (5th Floor Clinic - CMC)
M 4:00 PM Intracity Infectious Disease Conference
(See Schedule on Division bulletin board for location)
W 8:00 AM Pediatric Grand Rounds
Location: CMC Auditorium
W 9:30 AM Weekly Seminar and Follow-up Rounds
Location: Pediatric Conference Room (F3.112)
Evaluation
The students’ or residents’ performance is judged principally by case presentations, interpretation of clinical and laboratory information, and comprehension of the appropriate management and the daily follow-up of the cases. Other factors include interest in acquiring new information by reading and discussion and the ability to interact with patients and their families and with the faculty and fellows. The attending faculty member will discuss your performance with you. The rotator’s assessment of the division’s teaching and patient care activities is determined by completion of an evaluation form by all students and residents at the end of the 4-week rotation.
