Department of Infectious Diseases, KMC Manipal

The Department of Infectious Diseases at Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, was established as a Division under the Department of Medicine in 2015 and became a full-fledged independent Department in 2019. It is among the few departments in India to offer the DM in Infectious Diseases—the highest academic qualification in this specialty. The Department also plays a vital role in training postgraduate students from Internal Medicine through regular residency rotations and actively supervises doctoral research scholars.

The Department focuses on comprehensive training in clinical problem-solving, evidence-based decision-making, and the management of a wide spectrum of infectious diseases. The academic program emphasizes both foundational and advanced clinical skills, including emergency and critical care relevant to Infectious Diseases. Clinical services include in-patient care (including ICUs), out-patient consultations, and referrals from across the hospital.

Key areas of clinical expertise include HIV, tuberculosis, tropical infections (such as dengue, malaria, scrub typhus, leptospirosis, and Kyasanur Forest Disease), and healthcare-associated infections. The Department also runs specialized services such as the ART Centre (in partnership with NACO and the State AIDS Control Society), Hepatitis Clinic, Extrapulmonary TB Clinic, Adult Immunization Services, and Travel Clinic.

In addition to clinical excellence, the Department is a key member of the Hospital Infection Control Committee and is actively involved in antimicrobial stewardship and outbreak response. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department played a central role in patient management and institutional preparedness.

The Department has a robust research ecosystem with an active portfolio in tropical diseases, HIV, antimicrobial resistance, and healthcare-associated infections. Faculty members lead and participate in multicenter and multinational research projects, including investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored clinical trials. The Department also regularly hosts international fellows and research scholars and maintains several global academic and research collaborations.

1. Dr Steven Van Den Broucke, Head, Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp

2. Dr Devashish Desai, Infectious Disease Consultant, Ruby Hall, Pune, India

Awarded

Ongoing

Clinical Services: Department of Infectious Disease offers Consultations & Treatment for:

• Undiagnosed Fever (PUO)

• HIV infections

• Tuberculosis treatment

• Anti-retroviral therapy

• General infectious diseases (bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections, community and hospital acquired infection

• Infection related to immune deficiency (bone marrow or solid organ transplant recipients)

• Travel medicine (pre-travel and post travel advisory and tropical diseases, prevention, and treatment of travel related infections

• Bone and joint infections

• Infections in Cancer patients

• Infections in surgical patients

• Infections in ICU patients

• Adult immunization and travel immunization

• Patients with animal bites

The Department provides leadership for Infection Control and antimicrobial    stewardship at Kasturba Hospital.

Academic/Teaching:

1.   DM Infectious Diseases- 3-year course

2.   Infectious Diseases Rotation for MD Medicine, Chest Medicine and Community Medicine residents

3.   GHHM - Clinical teaching for Global Health and Humanitarian Medicine students which prepare them for Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Examination from Royal College of Physicians, UK.

1. Sethi A, Kumar TP, Vinod KS, et al. Kidney involvement in leptospirosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Infection. Published online March 20, 2025. doi:10.1007/s15010-025-02492-1

2. Tirlangi PK, Sebastian A, Prabhu M M. Tropical pyomyositis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. Published online February 18, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2025.102041

3. Gupta N, Tirlangi PK, Ravindra P, et al. Low leucocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte count (tri-low phenotype) in melioidosis: A predictor of early mortality. Curr Res Microb Sci. 2024;7:100303. Published 2024 Oct 30. doi:10.1016/j.crmicr.2024.100303

4. Groves ES, Simpson JA, Edler P, et al. Parasitaemia and fever in uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax malaria: A systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025;19(3):e0012951. Published 2025 Mar 28

5. Tirlangi PK, Ravindra P, Bhat R, et al. Utility of Adrenomedullin in Predicting Outcomes in Patients with Acute Febrile Illness in the Tropics: A Prospective Observational Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2024;111(6):1338-1342. 

The faculty of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal—Dr. Muralidhar Varma, Dr. Kavitha Saravu, Dr. Nitin Gupta, Dr. Tirlangi Praveen Kumar, Dr. Shivdas Naik, and Dr. Akshatha R—have distinguished themselves nationally through their clinical expertise, research contributions, and involvement in health policy. They have served as advisors for major national and international guidelines. Their research has been supported by prestigious grants from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). In addition to their academic output, the faculty serve on editorial boards of leading journals such as BMC Infectious Diseases, PLOS Global Public Health, Oxford Medical Case Reports, Tropical Diseases, Travel Medicine and Vaccines, and InfezMed, reflecting their influence and leadership in the field.

Google map      :  https://goo.gl/maps/9Y1pwj86MGjuj89Q8

Email                : id.kmc@manipal.edu

Phone number  : +91- 820- 2923874