Exercice de l'infectiologie en dehors de l'hôpital public en 2022

Abstract

ObjectiveIn France, the private practice of infectiology is currently marginal. However, the number of infectious diseases specialists (IDS) tends to increase regularly and currently approximately thirty of them practice in the private sector. As this practice is not well known, we carried out a survey to better describe the profiles and organizations of private-sector IDS, with the objective of making them better known to the public and health care authorities. MethodDuring the first semester of 2022, we conducted a survey among private infectious disease specialists by means of a standardized questionnaire (see appendix 1). ResultsOf the 33 known private infectious disease physicians, 31 responded to the survey. This survey shows that this specialty, even if at first glance it does not seem obvious, can be practiced in the private sector and that it does not differ much from the activity in the public sector, either in terms of pathologies treated, clinical research and publications or teaching. The big difference comes from the remuneration which is penalized by the absence of specific codes for the specialty and the absence of remunerative technical acts. ConclusionLiberal infectiology is complementary to the public and should not be opposed to it. It is a viable practice that should be developed given the benefits that institutions can derive from it, particularly with the constraints of quality and good antibiotic prescription practices.