Dr. Martine Lavergne – Infectious Disease Specialist | Saint-Charles-Borromée, QC

Dr. Martine Lavergne is a dedicated Infectious Disease Specialist (Medical Microbiology Co-Focus), committed to providing expert medical care for patients with infectious diseases. Practicing at Centre Hospitalier Régional de Lanaudière in Saint-Charles-Borromée, QC, she is a trusted provider of specialized infectious disease care in the community. The clinic adheres to the standards set by the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) and offers a comprehensive range of services supported by advanced diagnostic capabilities. She focuses on delivering precise diagnosis, effective treatment, and preventive strategies for a broad spectrum of infectious conditions, ensuring optimal patient outcomes within a professional and discreet environment.

Dr. Lavergne holds a Medical Degree from a recognized Canadian or Quebecois institution. Following her medical education, she completed residency training in Internal Medicine, followed by a specialized fellowship in Infectious Diseases. She may also have qualifications in Medical Microbiology, reflecting her dual expertise. With over 32 years of experience practicing as an Infectious Disease Specialist (Medical Microbiology Co-Focus) since 1992, she has established a reputation for clinical excellence. She has completed rigorous postgraduate training and holds the necessary certifications to practice in Quebec, ensuring adherence to the highest professional standards.

Her professional philosophy centers on accurate diagnosis and effective management of infectious diseases through evidence-based medicine. She is dedicated to educating patients about their conditions and infection prevention strategies, and actively promotes antimicrobial stewardship to combat antibiotic resistance. Dr. Lavergne emphasizes collaborative care with primary care physicians, public health entities, and other specialists to optimize both individual patient care and community health. She provides infectious disease consultations and treatments in French, ensuring accessible communication for her diverse patient population in Saint-Charles-Borromée.

Dr. Martine Lavergne provides expert diagnosis and management for a wide range of infectious diseases, including:

Viral Infections and Syndromes

Dr. Lavergne manages management may involve antiviral medications for specific viruses, supportive care, and prevention through vaccination.

• COVID-19 and Post-COVID Conditions (Long COVID): Expertise in antiviral treatments and evolving understanding of the disease.
• Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses: Management of seasonal influenza and other viral respiratory infections, especially in high-risk individuals or severe cases.
• Viral Hepatitis (Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E): Focus on chronic Hepatitis B and C, utilizing modern antiviral therapies to achieve viral suppression or cure.

Common Bacterial Infections

Dr. Lavergne manages treatment typically involves appropriate antibiotic therapy, a cornerstone of infectious disease practice.

• Sepsis and Bacteremia (Bloodstream Infections): Requires rapid diagnosis and aggressive treatment with antibiotics and supportive care.
• Pneumonia (Bacterial): Symptoms include cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.
• Bone and Joint Infections (Osteomyelitis, Septic Arthritis): Can be caused by bacteria spreading from other sites of infection or direct inoculation.

Fungal and Parasitic Infections

Dr. Lavergne manages diagnosis can be challenging and often requires specialized laboratory tests.

• Malaria: Treatment with appropriate antimalarial drugs based on species and resistance patterns; chemoprophylaxis for travelers.
• Endemic Mycoses (e.g., Histoplasmosis, Blastomycosis - region dependent): Fungal infections caused by organisms found in specific geographic regions, which can cause lung infections or disseminate throughout the body.
• Systemic Fungal Infections (e.g., Candidiasis, Aspergillosis): Serious fungal infections that can affect internal organs, often occurring in immunocompromised individuals.

This list is not exhaustive. For a comprehensive evaluation of your condition, a consultation with Dr. Martine Lavergne is necessary.

• Infections Related to Medical Devices and Implants: Management of infections associated with prosthetic joints, pacemakers, catheters, and other implanted medical devices.
• Antimicrobial Stewardship and Management: Promoting the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents to enhance patient outcomes, reduce microbial resistance, and decrease the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms.
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Consultation: Education for healthcare providers and patients on infection prevention strategies.
• Management of Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts: Expertise in managing complex drug interactions and atypical presentations.
• Travel Medicine and Tropical Diseases Consultation: Diagnosis and management of tropical diseases and infections acquired during travel (e.g., malaria, dengue, typhoid).
• Comprehensive Infectious Disease Consultation: Thorough evaluation, diagnosis, and management of complex or unusual infections.

Note: This list provides an overview. Specific diagnostic and treatment plans are determined after a thorough consultation with Dr. Lavergne.

All infectious disease services are provided in accordance with the standards of practice set by the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) and relevant Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada (AMMI Canada), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and relevant provincial guidelines. A referral from a physician is generally required for consultation.

Dr. Lavergne practices within the infectious disease clinic located in the Saint-Charles-Borromée neighborhood, housed at Centre Hospitalier Régional de Lanaudière. The clinic offers comprehensive infectious disease services, supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, and is easily accessible via local public transit routes. The facility is situated near numerous medical facilities and laboratories, facilitating coordinated care. Patients can generally access on-site or nearby public parking. The clinic provides a professional, discreet environment tailored for infectious disease consultations and follow-up care, ensuring patient privacy and comfort.

Are services from Dr. Lavergne covered by provincial health insurance?

Most specialized medical care for infectious diseases provided by Dr. Lavergne under Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) is covered. This typically includes hospital and outpatient consultations for complex infections. For specific services like certain travel vaccinations, it's best to confirm coverage with the clinic or Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).

What is the difference between an Infectious Disease Specialist and a Medical Microbiologist?

Dr. Lavergne, as an Infectious Disease Specialist, focuses on the clinical care of patients – examining them, ordering tests, and prescribing treatment for infections. A Medical Microbiologist focuses on the laboratory aspects of identifying pathogens and their resistance patterns, providing crucial information to ID specialists and other doctors. They often collaborate, and some specialists like Dr. Lavergne may have qualifications in both areas, providing a unique expertise in managing infectious diseases, combining clinical infectious disease expertise with specialized knowledge in laboratory diagnostics of microorganisms and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

What does an Infectious Disease Specialist like Dr. Lavergne specialize in?

An Infectious Disease Specialist, such as Dr. Lavergne, is a medical doctor (MD) with advanced training in diagnosing and treating illnesses caused by microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. They manage a wide range of complex infections, including those that are difficult to diagnose, are severe, or occur in patients with weakened immune systems. She combines clinical infectious disease expertise with specialized knowledge in laboratory diagnostics of microorganisms and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. They also specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of a wide spectrum of infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

What is Dr. Lavergne's role in antibiotic stewardship?

Infectious Disease Specialists like Dr. Lavergne play a crucial role in antibiotic stewardship, which is the effort to optimize the use of antibiotics to improve patient outcomes and reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance. This involves ensuring patients receive the right antibiotic, at the right dose, for the right duration, and only when necessary. Dr. Lavergne may provide consultations on complex antibiotic choices and help develop guidelines for appropriate antibiotic use.

What are some common conditions treated by Dr. Lavergne?

Dr. Lavergne treats a wide spectrum of infectious conditions. Common areas include HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis (B and C), tuberculosis, complex bacterial infections (like sepsis, endocarditis, or osteomyelitis), fungal infections, parasitic diseases, fevers of unknown origin, and infections in immunocompromised patients. She combines clinical infectious disease expertise with specialized knowledge in laboratory diagnostics of microorganisms and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Centre Hospitalier Régional de Lanaudière
1000 boul Sainte-Anne
Saint-Charles-Borromée, QC J6E 6J2

Office Phone: (450) 759-8222 | Office Fax: (450) 759-3075

Dr. Lavergne is a licensed Infectious Disease Specialist (Medical Microbiology Co-Focus) regulated by the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) under the Medical Act in Quebec. A referral from a family physician or another specialist is generally required for a consultation with Dr. Lavergne, particularly for services covered by Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).

Verify Dr. Lavergne's registration with the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ): https://www.cmq.org/en/directory/physicians?number=88123