Infectious diseases

The specialties of infectious disease and tropical medicine encompass the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of infections, including meningitis, bacterial pneumonia, hepatitis, HIV and tuberculosis. The popularity of exotic holidays and the rise in migrants to the UK has seen an increase in imported tropical diseases, such as malaria. The specialty is involved in providing medical travel advice for those going to and returning from tropical destinations.

In addition to dealing with communicable diseases from the community, infectious diseases specialists provide a consultation service for infections in other medical and surgical specialties, such as general medicine, surgery, intensive care and neurology. Along with medical microbiologists, infectious diseases specialists play an active role in infection control, antibiotic stewardship and the management of healthcare-associated infections. Increasingly, they supervise the provision of intravenous antibiotic therapy outside the hospital setting, saving bed days and increasing patient autonomy.

Related RCP publications

• Consultant physicians working with patients, fourth edition (2008)

Map of Medicine

The RCP has been working with Map of Medicine since 2008 to produce web-based knowledge support tools. There are 300 evidence-based clinical care maps covering all major areas of healthcare; including care maps for specific specialties.

Specialty training

For information about specialty training in tropical medicine, go to the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Postgraduate Training Board (JRCPTB) website.

Specialist society

• Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene