Peter D. Coakley, MB, BCh, MRCPI

Infectious Disease Doctor

Dr. Peter D. Coakley is an Infectious Disease Doctor in Bethesda, MD with special training and skill in detecting and treating bacterial, viral, fungal, and tropical infections. As an Infectious Disease Doctor, Peter D. Coakley, MB, BCh, MRCPI, BAO, BA performs blood tests, microscopies, blood sensitivity cultures, sputum, urine, stool, joint fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid testing as well as X-ray, CT, ultrasound and MRI scans. Infectious Disease Medicine is a medical specialty that diagnoses, controls and treats both nosocomial (hospital-acquired) and out-patient based infections. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Infectious Disease Doctors include antibiotic-resistant infections, difficult to diagnose infections, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Infectious Disease Doctors include examining rashes, lymph nodes, chest, abdomen and genital areas; testing blood, urine, stool, joint fluid and crebrospinal fluid and examining X-ray, CT, ultrasound, and MRI imaging; prescribing antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, anti-parasitics, or botanic medicine to fight detected infections.

An internist who deals with infectious diseases of all types and in all organ systems. Conditions requiring selective use of antibiotics call for this special skill. This physician often diagnoses and treats AIDS patients and patients with fevers which have not been explained. Infectious disease specialists may also have expertise in preventive medicine and travel medicine.