May 28, 2025

Hyderabad, known for its robust health infrastructure, is grappling with a notable scarcity of infectious disease specialists. With a population exceeding one crore, the city has only around a dozen experts in this field. Infectious diseases, caused by various microorganisms, are a leading cause of mortality in India. These conditions range from common ailments like swine flu and malaria to severe complications such as pneumonia, AIDS, and meningitis. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the significance of specialists, especially for patients with underlying health issues. Dr. Pratik Yashavant Patil, an infectious disease specialist at KIMS and a member of the National Clinical Infectious Diseases Society (CIDS), emphasized the growing prominence of viral and bacterial infections. Despite an increasing focus on this specialty, it has historically been perceived as a secondary subject, necessitating recognition akin to cardiology or neurology. Becoming an infectious disease specialist requires post-graduate training in general medicine, paediatrics, or microbiology, followed by three years of super-specialty training in infectious diseases. Dr. Pratik stressed that specialists are better equipped to handle infections caused by drug-resistant organisms, emphasizing the pivotal role of judicious antibiotic use in infection management. In the United States, this specialty was introduced in 1960, while India saw its inception much later, with only select hospitals offering training programs. The scarcity of infectious disease specialists is evident, with NIMS being the sole government hospital in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to have such experts. Dr. K. Bhanu Prasad, an assistant professor and infectious disease specialist at NIMS, highlighted the crucial role specialists play in evaluating and treating infections, including determining specific antibiotic needs for patients. As hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain a significant concern, infectious disease specialists are instrumental in adjusting medication doses for patients with various complex conditions, effectively reducing morbidity and mortality.

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Tags: Infectious diseases, Specialists, Hyderabad,