HIV, Immunology and Infectious Disease

Our Department provides care to people with health problems related to HIV, Viral Hepatitis disorders of the immune system including Allergy, and Infectious Diseases. This outpatient service is referred to as Immunology B Ambulatory Care (IBAC).

HIV

Professor Andrew Carr (Director)
Professor Bruce Brew (HIV-Neurology)
Professor Anthony Kelleher
Associate Professor Debbie Marriot
Associate Professor Gail Matthews
Dr Samuel Milliken (HIV-Haematology)
John McAllister (Clinical Nurse Consultant)
Dr Winnie Tong

St Vincent’s has a high number of people living with HIV or at high risk of HIV infection living in its vicinity, and is the largest HIV service in Australia. IBAC is known for its welcoming, friendly, confidential and professional staff. St Vincent’s Hospital has a long, well-known history as a centre of excellence in the diagnosis and compassionate care of those with HIV. Our services include Specialist Clinics, Nursing Care, Day Treatment and access to Social Work support and Dietician Services. We also provide HIV prevention services including HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which are both highly effective at preventing HIV infection in those at high risk.

Clinical Trial - HIV & the Brain

St Vincent's is currently looking for people living with HIV who may or may not be experiencing problems with their cognition (thinking skills) and are concerned they may have HIV residing in the brain. For further information please click here.

Dysplasia and Anal Cancer Services (DACS)

Associate Professor Richard Hillman

The Dysplasia and Anal Cancer Services (DACS), located within Immunology and Infectious Diseases Ambulatory Care (IBAC) targets people living with or at risk of anal cancer (ASCC) and related conditions. DACS is staffed by clinicians who have extensive experience in this area.

Our services include:

Our research enables us to provide cutting-edge care in line with the most recent developments in the field of anal cancer. A list of publications can be found here.

We collaborate with the a number of research organisations including The Kirby Institute at UNSW, The Garvan Institute and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre. 

Referrals to DACS should be considered for those at high risk of anal cancer.

If you are an individual that is concerned about anal cancer, please consult with your GP regarding a referral to our clinic.

Immunology

  • Professor Andrew Carr –Head of Department
  • Professor Sam Breit, Immunology
  • Professor Anthony Kelleher, Immunology
  • Dr Winnie Tong, Allergy/Immunology Clinic
  • Dr Tri Phan, Immunology
  • Dr Kate O'Connor, Allergy/Immunology
  • Dr Alisa Kane, Immunology

Services include diagnosis and management of clinical disorders of the immune system, including HIV, allergic diseases, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency, immunosuppression and neuroimmunology

The Allergy Clinic

Provides specialist assessment of the following conditions

  • Anaphylaxis
  • Drug allergy and adverse drug reactions, including skin prick testing, patch testing and challenge testing
  • Sub-lingual, oral and sub-cutaneous immunotherapy to drugs and foods
  • Chronic angioedema and urticaria ,unresponsive to standard treatments
  • Rhinitis/conjunctivitis (after GP assessment and management) unresponsive to standard treatments
  • Eczema unresponsive to standard treatments
  • Eosinophilic oesophagitis
  • Asthma that requires clinical immunologist and allergist input
  • Other conditions requiring clinical immunologist and allergist assessment

Please note: this clinic does not provide assessment of food intolerance.

If you anticipate having skin prick testing, please do not take any anti-histamines for 72 hours before your appointment.

Infectious Diseases

Head of Department - Associate Professor Gail Matthews
Associate Professor Debbie Marriott
Dr David Andresen
Dr Scott Chapman

Outpatient consultation and follow-up services are provided by four consultants and a registrar.

Ambulatory intravenous antibiotic therapy is supervised though several services including IBAC (Monday-Fridays), Hospital-in-the Clinic (7 days), and Hospital-in-the-Home (7 days).

Viral Hepatitis

Associate Professor Mark Danta
Professor Greg Dore
Associate Professor Gail Matthews
Clinical Nurse Consultant- Rebecca Hickey

The service provides tests and treatment for people living with Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B. The Viral Hepatitis Clinic is staffed by a full time Nurse Consultant and three senior doctors. We are involved in clinical trials and are excited to be able to offer new, easy-to-tolerate cures for Hepatitis C which have now become available. Additional services include

  • Fibroscans (a test to measure liver scarring)
  • Specialised blood tests
  • Vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B
  • Medical reviews
  • Nutritional advice
  • Social work
  • Support, counselling and advice on how to keep you and people close to you safe and healthy

Referrals

All referrals to IBAC Clinics should contain:

  • Patient name, address, phone and Medicare number
  • Doctor to whom you would like them referred
  • Specialty of that doctor & reason for referral
  • Interpreter required? If yes, language spoken.
  • Any other necessary information, eg pathology result

Please fax referrals to: 02 8382 2090 or email: SVHS.IBACReception@svha.org.au

Referrals will be assessed and triaged, and then you will be contacted by phone to schedule an appointment.

Contact us
IBAC Reception - Tel: 02 8382 3707 

Secretary to the Heads of Department
Golda Attunaga - Tel 8382 3359
Email: golda.attunaga@svha.org.au

Nursing Unit Manager
Gaynor Beardsworth – 8382-2994
Email: gaynor.beardsworth@svha.org.au

Clinical Research

The St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research (amr.org.au the) conducts clinical research through the Immunology and Infectious Diseases unit (IBAC) . The research includes multi-national clinical trials sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry, as well as St Vincent’s Hospital sponsored academic research studies.

We are closely affiliated with the University of New South Wales, and are a clinical site for many UNSW-sponsored studies.
The studies conducted within AMR-CRP include randomised clinical trials, cohort studies, and sometimes cross-sectional studies. Currently, we have research being conducted across the following therapeutic areas:

  • Hepatitis C
  • HIV
  • HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
  • Immunology (e.g. scleroderma)
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Infectious diseases

Contact

Operations Manager, Clinical Research Program
Philippa Pattinson
Email : philippa.pattinson@svha.org.au