Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases is a branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases caused by infectious agents, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Specialists in this field, known as infectious disease (ID) doctors, work to manage infections that can affect any part of the body.
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Infectious Disease services at MFT have now come together to form and managed single service under the new Infectious Diseases directorate. The aim is to ensure that all patients throughout Greater Manchester will have equal access to services, no matter where they are.

Our expert team looks after patients with challenging or severe infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Examples include: suspected or proven tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis B, C and D, chronic & allergic aspergillosis, candidosis, superficial fungal infections, infections of the intestines, skin, muscles, joints, or respiratory, urinary, cardiovascular and nervous systems (e.g. meningitis and encephalitis), malaria, typhoid, sepsis, blood-stream infections and travel related infections.

The team also supports patients who require intravenous antibiotics for the treatment of infections in the community (OPAT service). MFT Infectious Diseases is also the home of the UK National Aspergillosis Centre.

Patients are referred to our Infectious Diseases service by their GP, hospital Consultant, specialist nurse or other allied health professional. For those with specific other infections, such as hepatitis C, referrals can be received from drug workers etc.

What does the service provide?

Inpatient and outpatient care in purpose-built facilities, provided by consultant-led medical teams and multi-disciplinary teams, including specialist nurse teams for HIV, aspergillosis and/or hepatitis.

Infections:

  • Diagnostic testing/investigation
  • Inpatient isolation/barrier nursing where appropriate
  • Treatment / continued assessment and monitoring
  • Outpatient follow up
  • Some patients may be suitable for specific other therapies such as out-patient intravenous antibiotics
  • Access to clinical trials

HIV:

  • Diagnostic testing/investigation
  • Monitoring on antiretroviral therapy
  • Treatment with antiretrovirals
  • Treatment and monitoring of co-existing infections/conditions, including hepatitis testing
  • Supporting treatment adherence
  • Multidisciplinary support i.e. psychology, counselling, specialist nursing, access to peer support
  • Access to clinical trials
  • Rapid access to sexual health services

Hepatitis B, C and D:

  • Diagnostic testing and assessment including fibroscan
  • Hepatitis Treatment
  • Outpatient monitoring available in several locations
  • Access to clinical trials

Aspergillosis & Mycology:

  • The Highly Specialised Commissioned National Aspergillosis Centre
    • Extensive experience in the management of allergic and chronic aspergillosis
    • External access to advice & expertise via remote Teams MDT.
    • Specialist Nursing team
    • Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapy team
    • Specialist Pharmacist
    • CARES patient support team
    • OPAT service
  • Specialised fungal diagnostics from the Mycology Reference Centre Manchester mrcm.org.uk, serving NAC and ID.
    • Postal Aspergillus PCR service enabling the monitoring of treatment success and resistance
    • LC-MS-based therapeutic drug monitoring for antifungal drugs
    • Evaluation of commercial kits
    • Support for clinical trials – new antifungal drugs
  • Other fungal infections

Tuberculosis:

  • Our team has extensive expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of TB and non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) infections.
  • We are a centre for treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and provide specialist treatment services as well as inpatient isolation facilities

Candidosis (Advice and Guidance only):

  • The ID team has extensive expertise in diagnosing and managing challenging Candida infections and candidosis complicated by the patient’s complex medical history. Our team also works closely with our sexual health service enabling holistic patient care.

Sexual Health (Genitourinary Medicine GUM):

Sexual Health clinics are available in several MFT hospitals and other locations in the community, providing services including:

  • STI testing and treatment
  • HIV testing and management
  • Contraceptive advice and provision
  • Vaccinations, such as the HPV vaccine
  • Sexual health counseling

You might visit a GUM clinic if you:

  • Have symptoms of an STI, such as unusual discharge, sores, or pain during urination
  • Are sexually active and want to get tested for STIs regularly
  • Need advice or treatment for a sexual health issue
  • Are at high risk of HIV and are considering PrEP
  • Have concerns about sexual function or health

 

Who will the patient meet?

Consultant medical teams: providing assessment, diagnosis, treatment and care – either as inpatient or in an outpatient setting for all the above conditions.

Hepatitis B, C & D Nurses: for the assessment, provision and monitoring of treatments.

HIV specialist nurses and support team: assessment of people newly diagnosed with HIV or moving into the area; monitoring on treatment/ adherence support; home care planning and delivery with multidisciplinary liaison; work with young people transitioning to adult care, linkage with peer support and 3rd sector.

Aspergillosis Nurses: assessment and management of allergic (Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis ABPA, and chronic pulmonary Aspergillus infections (eg Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis CPA) forms of aspergillosis.

Multidisciplinary support – psychology, counselling, OT, dietetics, Sexual Health Adviser and social workers where appropriate.

Our expert team also provide consultation and support for transplant patients, cystic fibrosis patients, patients with bone and joint infection, patients in intensive care and those undergoing cancer therapies or are on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation).

When is the service available?

Inpatient service is available 24/7.

Outpatient clinics are available daily – am and pm for all infectious diseases.

Where is the service provided? Infectious Diseases services are currently provided at four locations:

  1. North Manchester General Hospital

General Infectious Diseases Clinics, Hepatitis and HIV clinics are held at:

North Manchester General Hospital
Delaunays Road,
Crumpsall,
Manchester
Greater Manchester
M8 5RB

Getting to North Manchester General Hospital

Phone: 0161 795 4567

Some out-reach clinics for hepatitis and HIV occur in primary-care settings and in-reach services are provided to the local prisons.

  1. Wythenshawe Hospital

The TB Clinic, General Infectious Diseases Clinic, Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis & Fungal Asthma Clinic take place in the North West Lung Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, located in the Yellow Zone near Entrance 3, off Southmoor Road.

The Viral hepatitis clinics take place in the North West Heart Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, located in the Yellow Zone near Entrance 6 or 7, off Southmoor Road.

The OPAT service is based at ward F11 (OPAT Infusion Clinic) at Wythenshawe Hospital, in the Orange Zone but OPAT Thursday clinic takes place in the North West Lung Centre located in the Yellow Zone near Entrance 3, off Southmoor Road.

The closest parking is in the main visitor car park, located in front of the Acute Block.

Wythenshawe Hospital clinics are located at:

Wythenshawe Hospital
Southmoor Road,
Wythenshawe,
Manchester
M23 9LT

Getting to Wythenshawe Hospital

Phone: 0161 291 2891/4362

Please note that the National Aspergillosis Centre does not operate with choose and book. Referrals to the NAC must be made directly to the Centre.

  1. Withington Community Hospital

WITHINGTON CLINIC (HUB) for the Northern contraception, sexual health and HIV service.


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