Infectious Disease

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The treatment and prevention of infection is a highly important component of Paediatrics, given the significant contribution of infection to childhood morbidity and mortality. The Division of Infectious Diseases is the only Paediatric Infectious Diseases Service for the entire South-west region and therefore plays a critical role in the overall health and well-being of our region's children.

 As a division we are committed to:

  1. Providing excellent clinical care,
  2. Contributing to improved understanding of childhood infections through active research and
  3. Training outstanding physicians to care for our nation's children. 

Clinical Care: Our clinical services include local and regional inpatient consultations as well as outpatient and Emergency room consultations. Some of our outpatient programs include:

  • South-West Ontario Paediatric HIV program
  • South-West Ontario Congenital Cytomegalovirus Screening and Follow-up Program
  • South West Ontario Paediatric Tuberculosis Program
  • South-West Ontario Virtual COVID (multidisciplinary)
  • Vaccine Hesitancy and Immunization in Special populations
  • Tropical and Zoonotic Infection Follow-up
  • Neonatal HSV Follow-up Clinic

Teaching: In addition to our active involvement in undergraduate curriculum development, teaching and assessment, we actively mentor our trainees, providing them with hands-on opportunities for research and scholarly activities. Several of our trainees have had opportunities to present poster and podium presentations at local and international conferences and won awards. Publications and conference presentations with trainee involvement include: 

Select Publications / Conference Presentations with Post-graduate or Undergraduate Student Involvement

  1. Petel D, et al Enteroviral and herpes simplex virus central nervous system infections in infants < 90 days old: a (PICNIC) study. BMC Ped 2020;20:252 ( Petel D  is a paediatric resident)
  2. Robinson J, Fanella S, Lopez A, Frankel C et al PICNIC study of the current landscape of invasive meningococcal disease in children (accepted CCDRC Aug 2020) (Frankel C was a paediatric resident)
  3. Wojtera M, Cheng H, Fiorini K, ,et al.Group B Streptococcal Cellulitis and Necrotizing Fasciitis in Infants: A Systematic Review.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2018 Sep;37(9):e241-e245. (Wojtera M and Fiorini K were medical students; Cheng H was an ENT resident at UWO)
  4. Frankel C, Alhounaim M, et al. PICNIC Multi-Centre Canadian Descriptive Analysis of Haemophilus Influenzae Bacteremia in Children: Emerging Serotypes in the Era of Efficacious Conjugate Vaccines. Podium presentation: IDSA 2018
  5. Barton M, Forrester M, McDonald J. Update on congenital Cytomegalovirus, Prenatal prevention 

            https://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/update-on-congenital-cytomegalovirus-infection-prenatal-    prevention-newborn-diagnosis-and-management  (Dr Michael Forrester was a paediatric resident (St John’s Newfoundland) at the time this was developed.)

Research and Scholarly activities: We embrace multicentre collaboration and participate in national and international multicentre research through research networks such as Pediatric investigator's Network on Infection in Children (PICNIC). We are actively involved in:

  • COVID-19
    • Systematic Review: Estimating burden of Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity
    • Multicentre Observational study in Children
    • Plasma Trial
    • COVID-19 Immunity Studies
  • HIV Collaborative Research Network
  • Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase Bacteremia
  • CNS Infections
  • Multicentre Osteomyelitis Research
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship

The Team:

 

Through our commitment to teaching, research and clinical care, our Division strongly supports the vision and mission of our Children’s Hospital.