Infectious diseases
Doctors working in infectious diseases diagnose, investigate and treat infections caused by micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi.
You’ll combine your clinical and laboratory skills to diagnose and provide effective treatment for a wide range of infectious diseases.
Life in infectious diseases
There are four distinct but interdependent infection specialties: infectious diseases, medical microbiology, medical virology and tropical medicine.
So, among other conditions, you could treat:
- bone infections
- HIV
- pneumonia
- viral hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
The role is rapidly changing due to:
- an increase in resistance to antibiotics
- an increase in the severity of infections particularly in an ageing and more frail population
- the growing popularity of global travel heightening the need for expertise in the prevention and treatment of ‘international’ diseases
You’ll regularly deliver:
- drug prescription
- insertion of a central venous catheter – a thin flexible hollow tube is inserted into a large vein for the introduction of fluids including medication
- lumbar puncture - a hollow needle is inserted into the lower part of the spinal canal to withdraw cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosis or to inject medication
- sigmoidoscopy (examination of part of the intestine using a very small camera)
How much can I earn?
You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. Find out details of current salary ranges for foundation and specialty training, SAS doctors and consultants on the Pay for doctors page.
How about the benefits?
- make a difference
- flexible and part-time working
- high income early in your career
- work anywhere in the world
- excellent pension scheme
- good holiday entitlement
- NHS discounts in shops and restaurants
Must-have skills
- excellent communication skills to manage a wide range of relationships with colleagues, and patients and their families
- emotional resilience, a calm temperament and the ability to work well under pressure
- teamwork and the capacity to lead multidisciplinary teams
- problem-solving and diagnostic skills
- outstanding organisational ability and effective decision-making skills
- first-class time and resource management for the benefit of patients
Entry requirements
Your first step is medical school. Typically, you’ll need excellent GCSEs and three A or A* passes at A level including chemistry for a five-year undergraduate degree in medicine. Many medical schools also ask for biology and others may require maths or physics.
If you already have a degree, you could study for a four-year postgraduate degree in medicine.
You’ll need to pass an interview and admissions test. You’ll be asked to show how you demonstrate the NHS values such as compassion and respect.
Some medical schools look to recruit a mix of students from different backgrounds and geographical areas, so your educational and economic background and family circumstances could be considered as part of your application.
What are my chances of starting a career in infectious diseases?
There are approximately 130 consultants working in infectious diseases in the NHS in England.
How to become an infectious diseases doctor
After medical school, you’ll join the paid two-year foundation programme where you’ll work in six placements in different settings.
After your foundation programme, you can apply for paid specialty training to become a doctor in infectious diseases, which will take a minimum of seven or eight years.
You may be able to train part time, for example for health reasons or if you have family or caring responsibilities.
Where a career in infectious diseases can take you
Infectious diseases is a wide and varied area and you’ll have many opportunities to specialise.
You can also combine your training with either general internal medicine or with medical microbiology (or virology) and tropical medicine.
You’ll also have opportunities to conduct research and teach.
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Consultant - Microbiology/Infectious Diseases
Frimley, GU16 7UJ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
-
Principal Infectious Disease Modeller
London, E14 4PU
- Salary :
- £58589.00 to £68344.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- UK Health Security Agency
-
Consultant Medical Microbiologist (Infectious Diseases)
Ashford, TN24 0LZ
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locum Consultant in Infectious Diseases & Acute Medicine/ Microbiology
Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
-
Consultant in Medical Microbiology/ Infectious Diseases
Swindon, SN3 6BB
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Lead Pharmacist - AMS, Infectious Diseases & OPAT
Hereford, HR1 2ER
- Salary :
- £64455.00 to £74896.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Wye Valley NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
London, SW10 9NH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Medical Microbiologist/Consultant in Infectious Diseases
Norwich, NR4 7UY
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
-
Consultant in Microbiology Infectious Diseases £20K welcome Bonus
Ipswich, IP4 5PD
- Salary :
- £105504.00 to £139882.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant in Infectious Diseases &/or Medical Micro/Viro/GIM
London, SE1 7EH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
-
Inflammatory Bowel Disease CNS
Shrewsbury, SY3 8XQ
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
-
Senior Pharmacist - Inflammatory Bowel Disease
York, YO31 8HE
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Care Coordinator - Chronic Disease Management
Hull, HU7 4DW
- Salary :
- £13.70
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- James Alexander Family Practice
-
Consultant Adult Congenital Heart Disease Cardiologist
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Band 4 Motor Neurone Disease Administrator
Birmingham, B15 2TH
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Cardiologist Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Brighton, BN2 5BE
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Clinical Research Fellow in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Hull, HU3 2JZ
- Salary :
- £49909.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Locum Consultant in Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Leeds, LS1 3EX
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Locum
- Employer :
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals
-
Senior Clinical Fellow in Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Birmingham, B15 2TH
- Salary :
- £65048.00 to £73992.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant Obs and Gynae FDS, Cancer Pathways and Vulval Disease
Birmingham, B15 2TH
- Salary :
- £109725.00 to £145478.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor - Acute Medicine
Blackburn, BB2 3HH
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Specialty Doctor - Emergency Medicine
Scarborough, YO12 6QL
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor - Palliative Medicine
Dorchester, DT1 2SL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Weldmar Hospicecare
-
Specialty Doctor - Rehabilitation Medicine
Exeter, EX2 4UD
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Speciality Doctor in Rehabilitation Medicine
Burslem, ST6 7AG
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Bank Senior Doctor - General Medicine
Redhill, RH1 5RH
- Salary :
- £75.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine
PRESCOT, L34 2QT
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- WILLOWBROOK HOSPICE
-
Trust Doctor ST3+ in Medicine
Huddersfield, HD3 3EA
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Acute Medicine
Reading, RG1 5AN
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Emergency Medicine
Penzance, TR18 2PF
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Emergency Medicine
Carlisle, CA2 7HY
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Trust Doctor ST3+ in Medicine
Huddersfield, HD3 3EA
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
-
Bank Doctor in General Medicine (ST3+)
Victoria Road, Macclesfield, SK10 3BL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- East Cheshire NHS Trust
-
Specialty Doctor / Fellow in Stroke Medicine
Reading, RG1 5AN
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
-
Trust Doctor ST3+ level in Reproductive Medicine
London, EC1A 7BE
- Salary :
- £50175.00 to £67610.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
Specialty Doctor in Emergency Medicine and Urgent Care
Huddersfield & Calderdale, HD3 3EA
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
-
Locally Employed Doctor (Higher) in Emergency Medicine QEHB
Birmingham, B15 2TH
- Salary :
- £65048.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Trust Doctor (ST1-2 equivalent) in General Medicine
London, E11 1NR
- Salary :
- £44170.00 to £50175.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Barts Health NHS Trust
-
ENT Doctor
Swindon, SN3 3RB
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Dermatology Doctor
Swindon, SN3 3RB
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
ENT Doctor
Canterbury, CT1 1BN
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Specialty Doctor
Pontefract, WF8 1QW
- Salary :
- £70901.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
-
Dermatology Doctor
Canterbury, CT1 1BN
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Specialty Doctor
London, SE5 8UH
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
-
Dermatology Doctor
Worthing, BN11 3BN
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
ENT Doctor
Worthing, BN11 3BN
- Salary :
- £550.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- CHEC
-
Specialty Doctor
Brunel Road, , RG7 4AB
- Salary :
- £59175.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Sue Ryder
-
Specialty Doctor Orthodontics
Wrexham, LL13 7TD
- Salary :
- £62117.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Specialty Doctor - Breast
Southend / Broomfield, SS0 0RY
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Research Doctor (CRDC)
Truro, TR1 3HD
- Salary :
- £52656.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
-
Specialty Doctor - Cardiology
Scarborough, YO12 6QL
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
UTC Speciality Doctor
Hillingdon, UB8 3NN
- Salary :
- £61542.00 to £99216.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor - Oncology
Birmingham, B15 2TH
- Salary :
- £59175.00 to £95400.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Specialty Doctor - Anaesthetics
Harrogate, HG2 7SX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
Showing 6 of 54 results
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These organisations have further information about being an infectious diseases doctor, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.
European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
And read this article about working in infectious diseases medicine: