Medically reviewed by Sivakumar Raman, MD — Infectious Disease · Reviewed July 2026
When an infection will not clear, keeps coming back, or is more complicated than a standard course of antibiotics can handle, the physician you need is an infectious disease (ID) specialist. Florida Infectious Disease Care is a physician-owned practice of nine board-certified infectious disease doctors serving Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and all of Southwest Florida — in our office on Metropolis Avenue, in area hospitals, and by telehealth across the state. We are open seven days a week, with weekend hours for infusion therapy, and we welcome both physician referrals and patients who contact us directly.
Why Southwest Florida needs specialized infectious disease care
Our region’s warm, humid climate supports year-round mosquito activity and fungal growth, and its steady flow of international travel and seasonal residents means local physicians see infections that are rare elsewhere in the country — from dengue and other vector-borne illnesses to travel-acquired parasitic disease. Add rising antibiotic resistance nationwide and one of Florida’s larger retiree populations (in whom infections often present atypically), and Fort Myers is a place where specialist-level infection care genuinely matters. A local ID practice follows these regional patterns week to week and treats accordingly.
What an infectious disease specialist does
Infectious disease physicians are internal medicine doctors who complete additional fellowship training in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. In practice, that means three things for you: advanced diagnostics (specialized cultures, PCR testing, antibody studies, and imaging interpretation to identify the exact organism), targeted treatment (choosing the right antimicrobial — and the right route, oral or IV — while minimizing side effects and resistance), and coordination (working alongside your primary care physician, surgeon, or oncologist so infection care fits your overall health picture).
8 signs you should see an infectious disease specialist
- An infection that isn’t responding to treatment. If symptoms persist after a week or more of antibiotics or antifungals, the organism may be resistant or the diagnosis may need a second look. Specialist-level cultures and testing find what standard workups miss.
- Prolonged or unexplained fever. A fever lasting two to three weeks without a clear cause — what physicians call fever of unknown origin — deserves systematic specialist evaluation; infections are among the most common identifiable causes of prolonged unexplained fever.
- Possible exposure to HIV or another STI. After a possible HIV exposure, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) works best when started within 72 hours — we see PEP patients the same day. For ongoing prevention we provide PrEP and Doxy-PEP, along with confidential STI testing and treatment.
- A weakened immune system. If you live with HIV, are receiving cancer treatment, take immunosuppressant or biologic medications, or have received an organ transplant, infections can be more severe and harder to treat — and treatment must account for your other medications.
- An infection that needs IV antibiotics. Bone and joint infections (osteomyelitis), heart-valve infections (endocarditis), and other deep infections often require weeks of intravenous therapy. Our outpatient infusion center lets most patients complete IV treatment without a hospital stay — including weekends, because IV antibiotic schedules don’t pause on Saturday.
- Illness after international travel. Fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, or rash after travel can signal malaria, dengue, typhoid, or parasitic infection — conditions general practices rarely encounter but ID specialists diagnose routinely.
- Infections that keep coming back. Recurrent UTIs, skin infections, or respiratory infections often point to an underlying cause — an immune issue, an anatomical factor, or incomplete initial treatment — that a specialist can identify and address.
- A post-surgical or hospital-acquired infection. Infections after surgery or a hospital stay frequently involve resistant organisms such as MRSA and benefit from specialist management, often in coordination with your surgeon.
Conditions we treat
Our physicians manage the full range of infectious disease, including:
- HIV — diagnosis, modern once-daily treatment, and long-term care, plus prevention with PrEP and PEP
- Sexually transmitted infections — testing, treatment, and prevention, including Doxy-PEP for bacterial STI prevention
- Hepatitis B and C — screening, antiviral treatment (hepatitis C is now curable in most patients), and monitoring
- Skin and soft tissue infections — cellulitis, abscesses, MRSA, and diabetic foot infections
- Bone, joint, and heart infections — osteomyelitis, prosthetic joint infections, and endocarditis, typically with outpatient IV therapy
- Post-surgical and hospital-acquired infections — including antibiotic-resistant organisms
- Respiratory infections — complicated pneumonia and infections in high-risk patients
- Tuberculosis — latent TB evaluation and treatment, and active TB management in coordination with the Florida Department of Health
- Travel-related and vector-borne illness — malaria, dengue, and parasitic infections
- Sepsis follow-up and recurrent or chronic infections — including fever of unknown origin
Our services
Prevention: PrEP and PEP for HIV, Doxy-PEP for bacterial STIs, vaccination guidance, and travel-infection counseling.
Outpatient IV antibiotic infusion (OPAT): hospital-grade IV therapy in a comfortable outpatient setting, seven days a week — one of the few infusion programs in Southwest Florida with weekend hours.
Telehealth across Florida: video consultations for evaluation, follow-up, and prevention services, wherever you are in the state.
Hospital consultations: our physicians provide infectious disease consultation at hospitals throughout Lee County, and we see hospital patients for follow-up in our office — usually within days of discharge.
How to choose an infectious disease doctor in Fort Myers
Whoever you choose — us or anyone else — look for five things: board certification in infectious disease (additional fellowship training beyond internal medicine); the full range of services in one place, from prevention through IV therapy, so your care doesn’t fragment across facilities; access and availability, because infections don’t wait — ask about same-week appointments, weekend coverage, and telehealth; a patient-centered approach where the physician explains the diagnosis and the plan in plain language; and reputation, both among patients and among the local physicians who refer to them.
What to expect at your first visit
Bring your insurance card, a list of current medications, and any recent lab or imaging results (if your records are at another office, we can request them). Your specialist will take a detailed history — including travel, exposures, and prior treatments — examine you, and usually order targeted testing. Many patients leave the first visit with a working diagnosis and a treatment plan; complex cases may need a follow-up once cultures return. Most consultations run 30 to 60 minutes. Make an appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral to see an infectious disease specialist?
No — while many of our patients are referred by their primary care physician, surgeon, or hospital team, you can schedule directly with us. Some insurance plans require a referral for specialist visits, so check your plan or call us and we’ll help you sort it out.
How quickly can I be seen?
We typically offer same-week appointments. PEP and PrEP patients are seen the same day — and if you reach us after hours, you will be seen first thing the next morning. Telehealth appointments are frequently available sooner than in-office visits.
What should I do if I was exposed to HIV?
Contact us immediately — PEP is most effective when started within 72 hours of exposure, and every hour counts. Call (239) 245-8223: we see PEP patients the same day, and if you reach us after hours you will be seen first thing the next morning.
How long does treatment take?
It varies with the infection: a straightforward resistant infection may need one adjusted course of therapy, while bone or heart-valve infections often require four to six weeks of IV antibiotics. Chronic conditions such as HIV or hepatitis B involve ongoing care. Your physician will map out the expected timeline at your first visit.
Do you treat antibiotic-resistant infections like MRSA?
Yes — resistant organisms are a core part of infectious disease practice. We use culture-directed therapy to identify which antibiotics will still work, and our infusion center allows IV treatment of serious resistant infections without hospitalization.
Do you offer telehealth?
Yes — we provide video consultations throughout Florida for new evaluations, follow-ups, and prevention services such as PrEP. Some situations (IV therapy, physical examination, lab draws) require an in-person visit, and we’ll tell you up front which type fits your situation.
What insurance do you accept?
We accept all insurance plans, and we also welcome self-pay patients. If you have any questions about your coverage, call (239) 245-8223 and our staff will help verify your plan before your visit.
Schedule your consultation
Florida Infectious Disease Care · 14192 Metropolis Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33912 · (239) 245-8223 · Open Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, Saturday–Sunday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM (infusion services). Request an appointment online or call us — physician referrals may be faxed to (239) 208-6623.
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