Infectious Diseases & International Travel Clinic in Eau Claire

Infectious diseases

Our infectious disease specialists in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, provide information, consultation and treatment for bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections, including bloodstream infections and complex or rare conditions caused by emerging infectious diseases and multidrug-resistant microbes. We also specialize in the optimal use of antimicrobials — agents that eliminate microorganisms or bacterial growth — to reduce the chances of developing drug resistance.

Our experts provide care for people with HIV, bone infections and infections related to complications from cancer, critical care and many other conditions. We also manage complex infections that can be encountered in the hospital setting by continuously developing strategies to reduce the risk of infection for hospitalized patients and after surgical procedures.

Infectious disease problems often are related to other medical conditions. Our team works closely with clinicians from other specialty care areas to ensure you receive the right care for your medical need.

Depending on your situation, your care team may include clinicians from:

• Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery
• Critical Care
• Dermatology
• Gastroenterology
• Hematology
• Hepatology
• Immunology
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Oncology
• Orthopedics
• Otolaryngology (ENT)/Head and Neck Surgery
• Pathology
• Pulmonology
• Rheumatology
• Surgery
• Vascular Medicine

An infectious disease pharmacist or nurse also may be a part of your care team.

With a focus on infection prevention and antimicrobial care, our infectious disease team is committed to developing a plan to meet your individual concerns and needs related to infections and infectious diseases.

International Travel Clinic

With an increasing number of people leaving the U.S. for business and pleasure trips, medical concerns while traveling are becoming increasingly complicated. If you or members of your family are planning trips to underdeveloped countries, our International Travel Clinic can help prepare you to have a healthy trip.

You'll meet with a travel medicine expert who is knowledgeable on current health risks worldwide. We promote safe, healthy travel by offering counseling, recommendations, vaccinations, prescriptions and, if needed, a referral to another expert for complex medical conditions.

Before your trip

Schedule an appointment for a pretravel consultation with us about four to eight weeks before you depart so we can help you prepare. Ideally, this appointment should be scheduled as soon as your travel plans are established. Some vaccines require several weeks for immunity to develop, while others require more than one dose for full protection.

Be prepared to inform the patient appointment specialist with this information:

• Countries you will visit
• Travel dates and duration
• Any unusual circumstances

At your appointment, or preferably before, bring copies of all available immunization records, including the International Certificate of Vaccination, commonly known as the yellow card. This will expedite your appointment and may decrease the number of vaccines you are advised to receive.

Your pre-travel consultation may include:

• A country-by-country assessment of all health risks specific to your travel itinerary, such as exotic infectious agents, altitude sickness and heat exhaustion
• A review of your medical and immunization history profile with advice for health promotion and illness prevention
• Advice for the high-risk traveler
• Immunization recommendations, counseling and administration of vaccines to prevent illnesses
• Vector precautions counseling
• Malaria prevention counseling with prescriptions, if needed
• Traveler's diarrhea counseling for prevention and self-treatment with antibiotic prescription, if needed
• Identification of health resources in the countries on your travel itinerary
• Counseling on travel-related risks, such as altitude sickness with preventive prescriptions, if needed
• An opportunity to ask questions about the unique health and safety concerns of your travel itinerary

After your trip

Depending on where you're going and for how long, our travel clinic may recommend a routine follow-up evaluation after your return. If you return sick, our travel medicine team, who also are infectious disease experts, can provide comprehensive post-travel consultations for evaluation and treatment of travel-related illnesses, including parasitic and other diseases common to tropical regions, but uncommon in the U.S.

Call to schedule your appointment today.