Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Fellowship Program

 

 

Introduction:

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a very rapidly developing country with significant improvement of health services. Disorders caused by a variety of infectious agents constitute one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in Saudi Children.  Furthermore, the field of infectious diseases is of the very markedly progressing subspecialties.  Over the past two decades, marked progress has occurred in diagnostic, preventive as well as therapeutic modalities.  Furthermore, the lists of newly discovered infectious agents, rapidly changing diseases syndromes, as well as newly introduced agents is ever growing.

Based on this, there is a growing demand for national training programs to provide pediatricians with all necessary training towards acquisition of KSU in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, after which the trainee will be competent in the management of various infectious problems in infants, children and adolescent and he will acquire a mature understanding of the related social economical and environmental aspects.

 

General Objectives:

The goals of KSU Pediatric Infectious Disease Program is to train pediatricians to:

1.  Become competent in the management of Infections in infants, children and adolescents.
2. Acquire adequate knowledge and ability to interpret data originating from clinical microbiology laboratory.
3. Become self-disciplined, self-dependent learners and learn to serve as consultants to other services and be able to provide an educational environment that will promote high standard of health care.
4. Perform research and emphasize the research oriented approach to new problems.
5. Reach an international acceptable standard with appropriate attitude and medical ethics.

 

Admission Criteria

To be admitted to the KSU Pediatric Infectious Diseases program, an individual must:

1. Possess a certificate of the Saudi Board of Pediatrics or an equivalent recognized degree, or have successfully completed the written component of the Final Saudi Board for Pediatrics. Continuation of the candidate in the program is conditioned by his/her “successful completion” of the final clinical examination in general pediatrics if not already fulfilled.
2. Pass successfully the interview conducted by local committee.
3. Provide two letters of recommendation from consultants with whom the candidate has recently worked with for a minimum period of six months.
4. Provide a written permission from the sponsoring institution of the candidate allowing him to participate, on full time basis, for the entire period of the program.
5. Number of fellows: 2 per year.

 

Structure of Training Program

Pediatric Infectious Diseases program is a two year program, during which the trainee rotates through various rotations. Those rotations include clinical services (14 months, including 1 month in adult services). microbiology(4 months), infection control ( 2 month),  clinical  immunology( 1 month), research ( 1  month) and an elective rotation (1 month).  The candidate is eligible for one month annual vacation.

 

A. First Year

During the first year, the fellow is expected to:

1. Acquire a broad overview of basic sciences of infectious diseases (include microbiology, immunology, pathogenesis, pharmacology, etc).
2. Develop adequate knowledge of common pediatric infectious diseases problems.
3. Have the following supervising rotations:

•      Consultation service                          -        7 months
•      Medical Microbiology laboratory          -        2 months
•      Infection Control                                -        2 months
•      Vacation                                           -        1 month     

 

B. Second Year

During the second year, the fellow is expected to:

1. Acquire a high level of understanding of basic sciences and its application to management of ID problems.
2. Learn the approach to investigate and manage complicated and rare infectious diseases.
3. Have the following rotations:

•      Consultation service                  -      6 months (including 2 months imunocompromised and HIV at KFSHRC)
•      Adult Infectious Diseases          -        1 month
•      Clinical Immunology                  -        1 month
•      Research                                  -        2 months
•      Elective                                    -        1 month
•      Vacation                                   -        1 month

 

 

1. Program Content
2. Clinical

The program will offer a broad range of clinical experience.  In addition to consultations is the general and subspecialty pediatric services, the program offers consultations to the surgical subspecialties, the Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units, and the various transplantation programs.  Exposure to adult infectious diseases is undertaken through rotations in an Adult Infectious Disease Training Program.

Trainees have the opportunity of assuming responsibility for patients care over a sufficiently long period to observe the natural history of the disease and the benefits and complications of therapy.

Organized outpatient clinics are available for the investigation and treatment of infections not requiring hospitalization, as well as for follow-up of inpatients after discharge from the hospital.

A. Hospital Infection Control

Trainees are given the opportunity to actively participate in the Hospital Infection Control Program and attend the meetings of the Hospital Infection Control Committee.

B. Laboratory Training

Trainees spend 2 months full time in diagnostic microbiology under the supervision of a certified microbiologist in an accredited Laboratory for training in medical microbiology.

The following areas of laboratory training are considered essential:

1. General Microbiology
2. TB Fungi and Routine Parasitology
3. Virology, Mycoplasma and Chlamydia
4. Special Techniques
5. Infection Control and Nosocomial Pathogens

 

C. Research

Trainees are expected to participate in the research activities of the Section of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases and by the end of his training he/she should:

1. Complete one research project
2. Prepare and submit at least one manuscript to a referred journal
3. Present a paper in a scientific meeting locally or internationally
4. Academic Activities

These may take several forms including:

1. Case presentations and discussion
2. Infectious Diseases Grand Rounds
3. Microbiology Plate Rounds
4. Infectious Disease Journal Club
5. Didactic lecture in core topics and recent reviews
6. Morbidity and Mortality meeting/rounds
7. City-wide Infectious Diseases/Microbiology club meeting
8. National and international symposia/conferences

 

 

Upon completion of the training and passing of the final examination, the trainee will be awarded certificate of “KSU Fellowship of Pediatric Infectious Diseases”.