Infectious Diseases

We encounter germs, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites, frequently in the course of our daily lives. Sometimes those germs, also known as pathogens, cause infections that range from mild to severe. Many people recover from infections on their own or receive treatment from their primary care doctor or other health care provider.

However, some infections may be challenging to diagnose or treat, requiring the care of a specialist.

Infectious disease specialists have extensive training in internal medicine (or pediatrics) and infectious diseases.

At MultiCare, our infectious disease specialists work closely with the other members of your care team to evaluate your symptoms, correctly diagnose your condition, design a personalized treatment plan and support your recovery.

We treat a wide variety of infectious diseases, from HIV to tuberculosis to meningitis. Most infectious diseases fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Bacterial infections. Caused by single-celled organisms that invade the body and multiply, bacterial infections include strep throat and tuberculosis.
• Food-borne diseases. These diseases are often caused by bacteria, such as salmonella and E. coli, or other organisms that contaminate food or water.
• Fungal infections. There are many different types of fungi. Some fungi like yeast may naturally live in your body and cause an infection if they overpopulate. Other fungi may be harmful when their spores (cells) are inhaled or if they come into contact with your skin. Common types of fungal infections include blastomycosis, histoplasmosis and ringworm.
• Insect-borne diseases. Caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites, insect-borne diseases include Lyme disease (spread by ticks), Saint Louis encephalitis and malaria (both spread by mosquitos).
• Parasitic infections. Parasites are organisms that live and reproduce in another living thing in order to survive. Parasitic infections can spread through contaminated water or food, insect bites and other ways. Common parasitic infections include Chagas disease, giardia and toxoplasmosis.
• Tropical diseases. Prevalent in regions of the world with tropical climates, these diseases can be caused by both bacteria and viruses. Common tropical diseases include cholera, Ebola, rotavirus and yellow fever.
• Viral infections. When viruses infect your body, they take over your cells and use what’s inside the cells to make copies of themselves. (Viruses can’t reproduce on their own.) In the process of making those copies, viruses can change, damage or kill your cells. Common viral infections include HIV, mononucleosis and herpes.

MultiCare’s infectious disease specialists provide care for both adults and children at locations across the Pacific Northwest. Our infectious disease experts also participate in clinical research, leading efforts to study diseases such as COVID-19 and HIV.

Your doctor may refer you to an infectious disease specialist if there is uncertainty about the source of your infection, if treatments such as antibiotics or anti-viral medications are not working or if your condition becomes severe. Our specialists have expertise in treating complex infections, recurring infections and infections in people with compromised immune systems.

If you are referred to one of our infectious disease specialists, they will review your symptoms and discuss your lifestyle and most recent habits, including foods that you have eaten or places you may have traveled.

Your specialist will work in collaboration with your doctor or other health care provider to find the root cause of your infection, design an effective course of treatment, relieve your symptoms and prevent the infection from recurring, if possible. Some infections such as HIV may require lifelong treatment.