Benjamin Landrum, MD in Baltimore: Infectious Disease Care at Johns Hopkins

Benjamin Landrum is an infectious disease specialist affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, where he treats adults with bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections across both acute and chronic conditions.

What he actually is

Landrum practices infectious disease medicine within one of the nation's largest academic medical systems. Infectious disease specialists like Landrum evaluate and manage infections that have resisted standard treatment, involve unusual pathogens, or occur in immunocompromised patients. His work spans hospital consultation (pneumonia, bloodstream infections, endocarditis), outpatient chronic management (HIV, hepatitis C), and travel medicine. At Johns Hopkins, he works within a department that also staffs emergency departments, intensive care units, and dedicated ID clinics across multiple Baltimore-area campuses.

Services and what to expect in terms of referral

Infectious disease specialists require physician referral. Your primary care doctor, urgent care provider, or hospital team initiates the consultation. Landrum's scope includes diagnosis of unexplained fevers, management of drug-resistant bacteria (including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] and vancomycin-resistant enterococci), HIV treatment and monitoring, chronic viral hepatitis management, and guidance on antibiotic selection when standard choices fail or patient allergies complicate treatment. He also addresses prophylaxis for patients at high risk of infection due to immunosuppression from cancer therapy, organ transplant, or autoimmune disease.

Pricing depends on insurance and whether care occurs in a Johns Hopkins clinic, urgent facility, or hospital setting. Johns Hopkins accepts Medicare and most commercial insurance plans; verification of your specific plan's coverage is necessary before your first visit.

How he compares to other Baltimore infectious disease options

Baltimore's infectious disease specialists operate primarily within Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland Medical Center, the region's two major academic systems. Both institutions have ID specialists on staff; the practical difference lies in system affiliation and facility location. Johns Hopkins operates clinics in Harbor East, Columbia, and at its East Baltimore campus; University of Maryland offers infectious disease consultation through its downtown medical center and associated outpatient sites. If you are already receiving care within Johns Hopkins, a referral to Landrum avoids system switching. If you prefer to consolidate care at University of Maryland, you would be referred internally within that network. Private practice infectious disease care exists in Baltimore but is uncommon; most specialists are hospital or academic-based because the work frequently involves inpatient consultation and complex drug interactions requiring institutional support.

Who benefits from seeing him and who does not

Landrum's practice suits patients with infections that have not responded to standard antibiotics, those with underlying immune suppression, people diagnosed with HIV or hepatitis C seeking ongoing specialist management, and patients requiring antibiotic prophylaxis before medical procedures. He is not a first-line provider for routine urinary tract infections, uncomplicated strep throat, or simple skin infections—your primary doctor or urgent care handles those. If you have a travel-medicine question before an international trip, an infectious disease clinic can provide counseling on vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis, though some primary care practices also offer this.

What happens on your first visit

Your referring physician's office sends records and the reason for consultation to Johns Hopkins. You will receive an appointment; timing varies but typically ranges from one to three weeks for outpatient consultation unless the situation is urgent (in which case you may see an ID specialist in the hospital). At your visit, expect a detailed history focused on recent travel, exposures, antibiotic use, and immune status. Landrum will review your current medications and any allergy history. He may order blood cultures, imaging, or other testing before you leave. If you are established in HIV or hepatitis C treatment, initial visits often include discussion of current therapy efficacy and adherence, with follow-up labs scheduled.

Hours, location, and logistics

Johns Hopkins operates infectious disease clinics at multiple locations; the main downtown medical center campus (1800 Orleans Street) houses the hospital-based ID service. Clinic hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but confirm the specific clinic location and hours when you receive your appointment letter, as they can vary by subspecialty and campus. Street and garage parking are available at the main campus; the Wolfe Street garage is the closest to hospital facilities. Public transportation via MTA Light Rail (Lexington Market stop) and bus routes also serve the downtown campus. Appointments are scheduled-only; walk-in ID consultation is not available.

Benjamin Landrum's position within Johns Hopkins' infectious disease department reflects Baltimore's reliance on academic medical centers for specialist care. His practice is relevant for anyone in Baltimore with an infection complex enough to require specialist input.