UPMC Center for Care of Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by living organisms like bacteria, parasites, or fungi. They can also result from viruses, which aren't technically alive as they need the cells of other living organisms to reproduce.

At the UPMC Center for Care of Infectious Diseases, our expertly trained team provides top-notch care.

We diagnose and treat a full range of infectious diseases and conditions, such as:

To learn more or make an appointment, call 412-647-7228 or 1-877-788-7228.

Why Choose UPMC for Infectious Disease Care?

We have specialty units for treating and preventing HIV-AIDS, post-op and post-transplant infections, and illnesses from global travel.
Our clinical and research-focused experts work to improve the standard of care for treating and preventing infectious diseases.
Our focus on infectious disease research lets us offer the latest in prevention and treatment. And it gives you the chance to take part in clinical trials.

What Are Infectious Disease Symptoms?

Some infectious diseases have distinct signs or symptoms, such as the rash measles causes.

But many share common symptoms, such as:

Fever.
Chills or sweats.
A new cough.
Sore throat.
Shortness of breath.
A stuffy nose.
Feeling pain or burning when you pee.
Redness, soreness, or swelling at a cut or other wound.
Diarrhea.
Throwing up.
Belly pain.
Muscle or joint aches.

If you have one or more of these symptoms that don't go away and you don't know why, call your doctor.

When to see a doctor

At some point, most of us will get a fever, have a cough, or feel sick. And we might not know if we should see a doctor.

But call your doctor and ask if they think you should see them if you have any of the following:

A severe headache with a fever.
Trouble breathing.
Coughing for more than a week.
A rash or swelling that you can't explain.
A fever that doesn't go away or you don't know the cause of.
Problems with your eyesight or blurry vision.
A bite from an animal, either a wild animal or a pet.

How Can We Prevent Infectious Diseases?

It's possible to prevent many types of infectious diseases.

First, get all the vaccines the CDC says you should get. This includes the COVID-19 vaccine.

Second, wash your hands often with soap and warm water. Don't forget to wash between your fingers and under your fingernails.

Most importantly, wash your hands before preparing food or eating, and after:

Using the bathroom.
Handling raw meat.
Gardening or doing other yard work.
Cleaning the house.
Grooming or feeding pets.
Holding or touching exotic pets, such as reptiles or rodents.
Coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
Visiting or caring for someone who is sick.

Along with vaccines and hand washing, follow these that can help reduce the likelihood of getting an infectious disease:

Wash all cuts and open wounds with soap and water. Then cover them with a clean bandage.
Seek care right away if an animal bites you.
Avoid sharing food, drinks, cups, or silverware with others.
Don't use tissues, napkins, or handkerchiefs after other.
Do not pick, squeeze, or remove any scabs or wounds.
Wash fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking them.
Cook food fully and at the right temperature.
Keep raw meat, seafood, poultry, and eggs separate from fruits, vegetables, and ready-to-eat foods.
Put leftovers in the fridge right after eating.

Infectious Disease Clinics and Programs at UPMC

The General Infectious Diseases Clinic treats people with common infections due to:

Surgical complications.
Cuts.
Animal bites.
Respiratory illness.

Common diseases we treat

The clinic's doctors diagnose and treat:

Surgical site infections.
Skin and soft tissue infections.
Pneumonia and other lung infections.
Bone and joint infections.
Recurrent UTIs.
Meningitis and encephalitis.
Endovascular infections (e.g., endocarditis).
TB and non-TB mycobacterial infections.
Animal bites and infections from animal exposures.
Recurrent sinusitis.
Jaw and oral infections.
Unexplained fevers.

At the Endovascular Infections Clinic at UPMC, we diagnose and treat people with vascular or heart infections. Your heart and blood vessels move blood throughout your body. Keeping this system working well is essential to your health.

To provide the best treatment possible for these serious infections, we collaborate and work alongside other medical experts at UPMC, including specialists in cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, and addiction medicine. Together, we provide care for people with heart infections and their complications.

Infectious disease specialists in the Endovascular Infections Clinic treat:

Endocarditis.
Complications related to endocarditis.
Cardiovascular implantable electronic device infections.

Schedule an appointment by calling 412-647-7228.

The PACT Clinic cares for more than 1,700 adults living with HIV. We offer primary and preventive care and HIV specialty care.

This clinic also offers:

Nutrition consults and pharmacy services.
Anal and gynecologic care.
Hormone therapy.
Hepatitis C care.
Mental health care.
Pain management.
Support groups.
Free and confidential partner testing.
Treatment for alcohol/opioid abuse.
Telehealth.

To learn more about PACT's HIV/AIDS services or make an appointment, call 412-647-7228 or 1-877-788-7228.

At the UPMC Anal Health Care Clinic, we diagnose and treat patients with a range of rectal and anal problems, including:

To plan a visit to the clinic, call 412-647-7228.

The PrEP Clinic treats people at high risk of contracting HIV. People using PrEP take daily oral antiviral pills to reduce their HIV risk.

It's also ideal for partners of people who have or may have HIV.

Some people discharged after an infection-related hospital stay still need antibiotics through intravenous (IV) therapy. OPAT helps manage side effects.

Our goal is to prevent another infection that puts you back in the hospital.

OPAT cares for people with many types of infections, including:

People who receive an organ or stem cell transplant are often at higher risk of getting an infection.

The Transplant Infectious Disease Program assesses this risk and designs a plan on how to prevent infections. They also help treat active infections in transplant recipients.

The UPMC Travel Health Clinic:

Prepares people for travel to countries with infectious diseases that they may not encounter at home.
Offers advice on recommended immunizations.
Suggests ways to help reduce the risk of getting an infectious disease while traveling.

The center places special focus on those at greater risk of getting a serious infection, including:

People with weakened immune systems.
Older or weakened adults.
Pregnant women.
People who have existing health issues.