Infectious Disease:

Infectious disease specialists have extensive knowledge and training that makes them experts on how infections spread and how the body fights infections. They diagnose and treat conditions resulting from all types of infections. Including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi.

Not everyone who has an infectious disease needs an infectious disease specialist. Your primary care physician can take care of most infections, but sometimes specialized expertise is needed to either diagnose or manage specific conditions.

When a fever raises the suspicion that you may have an infection, when an infection is potentially serious, or when problems occur with treatment, it may be necessary to consult an infectious diseases specialist. Dr. Diego can provide special insight into tests that will be helpful in diagnosing and understanding the infection and preventing recurrent infections. He can often help determine what treatment you need, if any, and whether you should receive antibiotics. You may not require any treatment, but if you do, he may confer with your primary care physician about which diagnostic testing and forms of treatment are best suited to your needs.

If you are hospitalized for an infection, or acquire an infection while hospitalized, Dr. Diego will follow and help direct your hospital care. In some cases, he may continue to see you after you go home from the hospital.

Dr. Diego also specializes in treating patients with infections due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS. If you are considering treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV), Dr. Diego will be able to help. Along with his specialized knowledge comes a particular insight into the use of antibiotics and their potential adverse effects. Dr. Diego also has additional training in immunology (how the body fights infection), epidemiology (how infections spread) and infection control.