Inpatient/Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Infectious Disease in Shreveport

Information about this clinical experience:

You will be under the supervision of a board-certified internal medicine and infectious disease physician who is on staff at multiple hospitals in the Shreveport area. The attending has had considerable experience educating internal medicine residents and students.

As an infectious disease specialist, this physician has expertise in the diagnosis and management of infections caused by various agents, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Students who rotate through this clinical experience will learn how to evaluate patients with acute and chronic infectious disease, analyze microbiologic data, and select appropriate antimicrobial therapy if needed.

To maximize learning during this clinical experience, we encourage you to read the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) Clinical Practice Guidelines. These are systematic reviews written by experts in the field that provide evidence-based recommendations that you can use to expand your knowledge and ensure that patients receive the best possible care. Since infectious disease problems will be commonly encountered during your residency, familiarity with these documents now will help you to build a strong foundation for your work as a resident. You can access these guidelines at the following:

IDSA Clinical Practice Guidelines

Of particular importance during this clinical experience is learning about the evaluation and management of more commonly encountered and potentially life-threatening conditions. These include meningitis, sepsis, pneumonia, hepatitis, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, prosthetic joint infections, HIV, sexually transmitted illnesses, tuberculosis, and nosocomial infections.

Another important objective of this clinical experience is to gain an understanding of the proper use of antimicrobial agents. The following article is an excellent resource in this regard:

General Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy

During your experience, you will learn the following U.S. medical practices under the preceptor’s supervision:

• Taking patient histories.

• Performing exams under the physician's supervision.

• Presenting patients.

• Researching the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.

• Educating patients.

• Working with other healthcare professionals, including NPs and PAs