Paediatric infectious diseases

The paediatric infectious diseases unit (PIDU) at St George’s Hospital provides a regional service for the care of children with complex infectious diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis and immunodeficiency.

The PIDU at St George’s is:

• A National training centre for paediatric infectious diseases, formally recognised by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).
• The formally commissioned lead provider in England within a National network for children with HIV. This service is family-centred, and includes a wide multi-disciplinary team (psychologist, dietician and specialist nurses, including a HIV nurse consultant).

PIDU Services at St George’s include:

• Large in-patient regional PID ward-based unit, with HEPA lamina flow cubicles for MDR TB.
• Rapid Access PID service, where children can be assessed for complex paediatric infectious diseases within 48 hours.
• A wide range of Specialist out-patient clinics, including HIV, TB, PID, Primary Immunodeficiency, Vaccine advice, Hepatitis, Congenital Infection.
• 24 hour, 365 day/year out-of-hours PID Consultant Provision, with an active PID Consult service to the region.

The PID Research Group (PIDRG) based at St George’s University London is internationally recognised as a leading centre for PID research.

The PIDRG has an active research programme in:

• vaccine preventable disease
• perinatal infection
• antimicrobial resistance
• healthcare associated infection (HCAI)
• optimal use of antimicrobials

The PIDRG is led by Professor Paul Heath, Professor Mike Sharland and Dr Kirsty Le Doare. It has a large team of researchers including research nurses, research fellows, administrators, laboratory technicians and statistical and database support. Vaccine studies are conducted through the SGUL vaccine institute (www.vaccine.ac.uk).

What we offer

Specialist clinic services

• HIV, including an Adolescent clinic, offering seamless transition to adult services. HIV pregnancy and family clinics
• Hepatitis and congenital infections
• Immunology
• Vaccine clinic
• General paediatric infectious diseases

The PIDU receives a broad range of clinical referrals, including:

• pyrexia of unknown origin
• recurrent infections
• febrile children returning from abroad
• complex infections in immunocompromised children
• bone and joint infections (in collaboration with the paediatric orthopaedic team)
• central nervous system infections, including brain abscess