POTSDAM -- Daniel M. Soule, DO, a specialist in infectious diseases, has joined the St. Lawrence Health System medical staff and is practicing with Canton-Potsdam Hospital’s hospitalist team.

He also sees patients by appointment Friday mornings in Canton, in the E. J. Noble Professional Building at 80 E. Main St.

Soule collaborates with the hospitalist team to identify, treat, and prevent infectious diseases that affect all body systems. These include diseases transmitted by insects, such as Lyme, those transmitted via droplets or particles in the air, such as tuberculosis and Hantavirus, and diseases or conditions transmitted through contact, such as sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis, MRSA, and C-difficile.

In recent years, bacteria, viruses, and some parasites that can spread disease have become increasingly resistant to medicines traditionally used to treat them. Many microbes have adapted to drugs such as antibiotics, rendering some antibiotics less effective in the fight against disease. This microbial adaptation is known as antimicrobial resistance and it is extremely costly to society and the healthcare system as a whole, causing untold suffering, long-term disability, and financial hardship, SLHS said.

As microbes have adapted, SLHS officials say Canton-Potsdam Hospital "has kept pace against antimicrobial resistance."

In 2008 the hospital launched a task force comprised of medical staff, nurses, the hospital’s infection prevention officer, housekeeping, materials management, and information systems staff.

The task force instituted protocols for medical management of microbes, developed new cleaning procedures and purchasing practices—such as waiting-room furniture made with hospital-grade antimicrobial fabrics—and developed systems for tracking infections.

“The next step in the war against drug-resistant microbes was to have a medical expert on board who can bring the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of common infectious diseases and who is also able to provide early identification of rarely seen diseases that may affect people living and working in our County,” said David B. Acker, FACHE, President and CEO of St. Lawrence Health System.

“Dr. Soule brings a unique perspective to the practice of medicine, one that crosses virtually every medical discipline,” he said. “As infectious diseases continually evolve, he is enhancing our agility in prevention and response,” said Mr. Acker.

Soule received his doctor of osteopathy degree from Midwestern University of the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed an internal medicine residency at Baystate Medical Center of Tufts University School of Medicine in Springfield, Mass. He completed his fellowship in infectious diseases at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. He has given invited presentations and published in the peer-reviewed literature on a variety of infectious disease topics, including invasive Aspergillosis.

His community and volunteer experience includes a service in a free health clinic in Worcester, MA, and service at a migrant farm clinic, mentoring elementary students, and participating in a free clean needle exchange program to assist the City of Hartford, Conn., to reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis.

For more information or to make an appointment, visit www.cphospital.org or call 261-5896.