Rehile Zengin, MD

Rehile Zengin, MD is a specialist in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital in İstanbul, where she has worked in the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic since 2017. She has more than 19 years of experience in medicine and sees adult patients with a broad range of infectious disease concerns, from sexually transmitted infections and viral hepatitis to preventive needs such as adult vaccination and travel health.

Dr. Zengin graduated from Azerbaycan Tıp University Faculty of Medicine in 2007 and completed her specialty training in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Azerbaycan Tıp University in 2013. Between 2007 and 2011 she worked as a research assistant in the Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji department of the same faculty. In 2013 she spent time at Health Sciences University Haydarpaşa Nümune Training and Research Hospital, first as an observer doctor and then as a research assistant in its Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic. From 2013 to 2017 she practiced as a specialist doctor at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital before moving to her current position. She is a member of Kimik (Turkish Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Association), the Febril Nötropeni Association and Ekmud (Turkish Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Association). Her published work includes co-authored studies on COVID-19 in intensive care patients, sepsis biomarkers for the early diagnosis of bacteremia, and cell-based approaches to refractory viral infections after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Clinical focus

Dr. Zengin’s clinical interests center on infections that are common in adult practice. She evaluates and manages sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis and HPV, as well as HIV and AIDS. She also cares for patients with hepatitis and with lower respiratory tract infections. Reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, known as shingles, is a further area of her work.

Alongside the diagnosis and treatment of established infections, Dr. Zengin addresses prevention. She advises on adult vaccination and provides travel health consultations, which may include a review of the destination, planned activities and the patient’s existing health conditions so that appropriate vaccines and precautions can be discussed. Each assessment is tailored to the individual patient’s symptoms, medical history and relevant infection risks.

How Dr. Zengin works with international patients

Dr. Zengin consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a visit, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as laboratory results, MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, pathology results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing test results and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the available options. For patients who cannot travel immediately, Dr. Zengin also offers video consultations, which can be used to review existing findings and discuss next steps before any in-person visit.