History

Department of Infectious Diseases was created in Kosice in 1945 as a part of Department of Internal Medicine. In 1949 there was built a new separate building with 50 beds. Dr. Lukáč was the first head of department until 1953, followed by doc. Dr. Burger for next two years. From 1955 doc. Dr. Mittermayer, PhD. become a new head of department, who later held also the function of regional chief expert for infectology. The capacity of the ward has grown from 50 to 80 beds. Department of Infectious Diseases as a part of Medical Faculty was established at 1.1.1966. From 1978 to 1990 doc. Dr. Bilčíková, PhD. led the department. Since 1990 prof. Dr. Schréter became a new head of the department, who is also a Chief expert of Ministry of Health for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine. In 2009, the department changed its name to Department of Infectology and Travel Medicine. As the most important therapeutical and scientific achievement of department is considered the introduction of high doses mebendazole treatment for trichinella encephalitis, which was first used and published by the former head of the department doc. Dr. Mittermayer, PhD. Even today, this method of treatment is widely accepted and in the scientific literature associated with his name.