The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit at Dana-Dwek Children’s Hospital provides consultation to inpatient departments for infectious diseases acquired in the community or in the hospital.
The unit also treats immunocompromised children with primary (congenital) or acquired immune deficiencies, including children with cancer, children undergoing chemotherapy, patients following bone marrow transplantation or surgery, and premature infants.
Infectious diseases may be caused by a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, and account for a significant proportion of illnesses in children.
The unit plays an important role in educating medical and nursing staff on the prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections and on appropriate measures during infectious disease outbreaks within the hospital.
An important part of the service is promoting the appropriate use of antibiotics in order to reduce the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Once a week, multidisciplinary meetings are held with the unit’s team, a clinical pharmacist, and teams from various hospital departments to discuss antibiotic treatment for hospitalized children.
The unit also provides consultation to community pediatricians on all aspects of pediatric infectious diseases, including immunizations.
Team
The clinic treats:
- Children with prolonged or recurrent fever without a clear diagnosis
- Children with recurrent throat infections or other recurrent infections, such as ear infections or pneumonia
- Children with suspected immune deficiencies
- Children with recurrent or prolonged diarrhea
- Children requiring prolonged intravenous antibiotic treatment at home
- Children requiring follow-up after hospitalization for an infectious disease, as well as children referred for consultation by community physicians
- Children with acquired immune deficiencies
- Children and families requiring consultation regarding immunizations
Clinic for Screening Children for Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are bacteria that do not respond to certain antibiotics because they have developed mechanisms that allow them to survive despite antibiotic treatment. In these cases, some antibiotics may be ineffective in treating the infection.
Carriage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria may be identified during treatment or hospitalization. Carriage can persist for several months, a year, or even longer. Dana-Dwek Children’s Hospital operates a dedicated clinic for children to determine whether they are still carriers, coordinating all required tests and procedures.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria may live on the skin or in the gastrointestinal tract, usually without causing illness or requiring treatment. However, they may pose a risk to patients with chronic conditions, patients undergoing surgery or other invasive procedures, and those with weakened immune systems.
Therefore, when a known carrier requires hospitalization or medical care, appropriate isolation and protective measures may be taken to help prevent transmission of resistant bacteria to other patients.