Complex and Specialised Infection Services — Gold Coast

Beyond the common infections, our physicians provide specialist input into problems that are uncommon, difficult to diagnose, or that sit at the intersection of infection and another specialty. These are the referrals that often arrive after several other opinions.

Infection in the immunocompromised patient

Infection behaves differently when the immune system is suppressed. Presentations are blunted, the range of possible organisms is far wider, and delay is costly. We assess and manage infection in patients who are:

  • Receiving chemotherapy or targeted cancer therapy
  • On biologic, immunosuppressive or high-dose corticosteroid therapy
  • Living with haematological malignancy or neutropenia
  • Solid organ or stem cell transplant recipients
  • Asplenic, or living with primary immunodeficiency
  • Living with HIV

This includes opportunistic infection, prophylaxis strategies, and vaccination planning around immunosuppression.

Fever of unknown origin

Prolonged fever without an obvious cause requires a systematic approach rather than successive courses of empirical antibiotics. Assessment covers infective, inflammatory, malignant and drug-related causes, with investigation sequenced according to the clinical pattern and exposure history.

Infection in pregnancy

We advise on infection and antimicrobial safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding, working with obstetric colleagues. This includes infections detected on antenatal screening, exposure to infection during pregnancy, vaccination in pregnancy, and choosing effective therapy that is safe for the pregnancy.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for surgery

We advise on prevention of surgical site infection and on prophylaxis for patients who present particular difficulty — those colonised with resistant organisms, those with significant antibiotic allergy, those with prosthetic material in situ, and those undergoing surgery in a previously infected field. Pre-operative optimisation and decolonisation can be arranged where indicated.

Zoonoses and environmental infections

Infections acquired from animals or the environment, including Q fever, brucellosis, leptospirosis, melioidosis, psittacosis, and infection following animal bites and scratches.

Complex antibiotic allergy

A recorded penicillin allergy is one of the most common reasons patients receive less effective, broader or more toxic therapy. Most such labels turn out to be incorrect. Formal assessment of the allergy history, and de-labelling where appropriate, materially improves the options available for future treatment.

Related services

Referrals

A current referral addressed to our rooms, or to one of our specialists by name, is required before an appointment can be arranged.

Gold Coast Infection Specialists Mater Private Hospital Gold Coast Specialist Suites Ground Floor, 14 Hill Street, Southport QLD 4215 Phone: 07 5530 0770