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Progress in Prevention of IFIs &
Promise of New Diagnostic Techniques
Case Discussion Series
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Activity Overview
This Podcast is part of the Initiative Preventing & Managing IFIs: Progress & Promise in the 21st Century.
- The first step in this Initiative consisted of 2 Live Webinars, now available as
On-demand Webinars. In these Webinars, experts in medical mycology discuss scientific
evidence (On-demand Webinars available at Vemco MedEd website/CME Portal).
- Podcast represents the second step in this Initiative. Scientific evidence
presented in the Webinars is reinforced and placed in clinical context through case
discussions. Case discussion between physician and pharmacist experts brings in
the viewpoint of both specialties. This approach highlights clinical considerations
that both specialties should be aware of when formulating and evaluating their management approach.
This Podcast consists of 3 episodes released weekly beginning May 21, 2009. Reviewing all the 3 episodes
is required before submitting the Post Test, Evaluation, and Credit Application form.
In Episode 1, Dr. Chandrasekar and Dr. Drew discuss the case of a 34-year-old woman with acute
myelogenous leukemia who undergoes induction chemotherapy. 2 weeks following chemotherapy
she presents with fever and pleuritic chest pain.
In Episode 2, Dr. Chandrasekar and Dr. Drew discuss the case of a 76-year-old man who is
admitted directly to the medical ICU for congestive heart failure. He has multiple
comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Upon admission, he is placed
on mechanical ventilation and has a CVC inserted. After 4 days in the hospital, the
patient develops fever, hypotension, and altered mental status. A Gram stain of a blood
culture sample shows yeast.
In Episode 3, Dr. Chandrasekar and Dr. Drew discuss the case of a 46-year-old woman
with myelodysplastic syndrome who received a bone marrow transplant. 2 months later, her
condition is complicated by acute graft-versus-host disease requiring high-dose steroid
therapy. The hospital ward has recently experienced higher than normal rate of aspergillosis.
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Release Date: May 21, 2009
Credit Expiration Date: June 5, 2010
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Credit Hours
Physician CME: 1.0
Pharmacist CPE: 1.0 (0.10 CEUs)
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Activity Type
Application-based and performance-based
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Educational Overview
When it comes to the management of invasive fungal infections (IFIs), a great
deal of progress has been made with significant advancements in prevention, diagnosis, and
treatment. Promising new clinical data allow for more targeted antifungal prophylaxis, identifying
at-risk patients who would benefit most from this strategy. Evolving radiographic and
serologic diagnostic techniques enable clinicians to initiate therapy at the time when
therapeutic intervention is most effective. More options when determining treatment lead
to better health outcomes for more patients at risk of or who have IFIs.
Today’s healthcare teams are more vigilant in anticipating the possibility of a fungal
infection. As a result, survival rates continue to increase while health outcomes
improve. These positive efforts must continue. Clinicians, who acquire a level of
knowledge and familiarity with new prevention approaches, diagnostic techniques, and
management strategies for IFIs, will be empowered to make timely, accurate, evidence-based
decisions that benefit their patients.
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Target Audience
This activity has been developed for clinical pharmacists, infectious diseases
physicians, hematologists/oncologists, and transplant physicians responsible for the management of IFIs.
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Purpose Statement
The purpose of this activity is to educate physicians and pharmacists involved in the
management of patients at risk of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) on prevention
through the appropriate use of antifungal prophylaxis and early detection using new
diagnostic techniques. With this knowledge, healthcare professionals will be able to
minimize the incidence of IFIs and diagnose infection during the early stages.
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Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, learners should be able to
- Assess the appropriate use of antifungal prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients
- Evaluate the utility of the latest diagnostic techniques for early detection of IFIs
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Faculty
Pranatharthi H. Chandrasekar, MD
Professor of Medicine
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Detroit, MI
Richard H. Drew, PharmD, MS, BCPS
Professor, Campbell University School of Pharmacy
Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases)
Duke University School of Medicine
Durham, NC
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Accreditation
Physicians
Accreditation Statement: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance
with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical
Education (ACCME) through joint sponsorship of Center for Independent Healthcare
Education (Center) and Vemco MedEd. Center is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing
medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation: Center designates for this activity a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians
should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Pharmacists
 Accreditation Statement:
Center for Independent Healthcare Education (Center) is
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of
continuing pharmacy education.
Credit Designation: Center has assigned 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy
education credit for participation in this activity.
ACPE Universal Activity Number: 473-999-09-009-H01-P
Estimated time to complete activity: 1.0 hour
For questions regarding the accreditation of this activity, please contact Center at info@jointsponsor.com
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Method of Participation and Instruction for Credit
- Review the entire CME/CE information including target audience, learning objectives, and disclosures.
- Review the 3 Podcast Episodes in their entirety.
- Print and complete the Post Test, Evaluation, and Credit Application form.
- Mail the completed Post Test, Evaluation, and Credit Application form to Vemco MedEd, 245 US Highway 22, Suite 304, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Or Fax to (908) 235-4222.
Documentation of credit will be mailed within 4 weeks of receipt of the completed Post
Test, Evaluation, and Credit Application form.
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Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Center for Independent Healthcare Education requires faculty, planners, and others who are
in a position to control the content of continuing education activities to disclose to the
audience any real or apparent conflict of interest related to the activity. All identified
conflicts of interest are reviewed to ensure fair balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor
in all activities. The faculty is further required to disclose discussion of off-label uses
in their presentations.
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Disclosure
Faculty
Pranatharthi H. Chandrasekar, MD
Research/Grant Support: Pfizer
Advisory Boards: Basilea and Pfizer
Speakers Bureaus: Schering-Plough, Astellas, Merck, Pfizer, and Enzon
Richard H. Drew, PharmD, MS, BCPS
Consultant: Merck, Theravance, Schering-Plough, Forest, Wyeth-Ayerst, and Ortho-McNeil
Research Support: Schering-Plough, NeuTec, and Cubist
Speaker Honoraria: Schering-Plough, Ortho-McNeil, Enzon, and Astellas
Development Team: CustomID
Planning Committee Members
Employees of Center for Independent Healthcare Education and Vemco MedEd have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Off-label Disclosure Statement
During this activity, off-label use of the following antifungal agents will be discussed:
Episode 1: no discussion of off-label use of antifungal agents
Episode 2: no discussion of off-label use of antifungal agents
Episode 3: voriconazole (for prophylaxis); lipid formulations of amphotericin B (for prophylaxis).
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Joint Sponsorship
This activity is jointly sponsored by Center for Independent Healthcare Education and Vemco MedEd.
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Commercial Support
This activity is supported by an educational grant from Schering-Plough Corporation.
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Fee
There is no fee to participate in this educational activity.
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Hardware/Software Requirements
Web Browser
Internet Explorer or Mozilla
Note: Please disable any “pop-up blocker” features.
Software
Flash Player to view the presentations
Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4 or above to view PDF files (If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can download it
for free from http://get.adobe.com/reader)
Connection Speed
Cable, DSL, or better of at least 300 kbps
Hardware
PC or Apple to view the presentations
Audio Speakers
System Check
Please e-mail any questions or concerns to info@vemcomeded.com.
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2009 Vemco MedEd, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Permission for accreditation use granted to Center for Independent Healthcare Education.
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Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not
reflect the views of Center for Independent Healthcare Education (Center) and
Vemco MedEd. This educational activity may discuss off-label and/or investigational
uses and dosages for therapeutic products/procedures that have not been approved by
the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Center and Vemco MedEd do not
recommend the use of any product/procedure outside of the labeled indications. A qualified
healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product/procedure
discussed. Learners should verify all information and data before treating patients or
employing any therapies described in this continuing education activity. Please refer to the
official prescribing information for each product/procedure for approved
indication, contraindications, and warnings.
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Privacy Policy
http://www.vemcomeded.com/privacy.asp
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Contact Information
For questions regarding the accreditation of this activity, please contact Center for Independent Healthcare
Education at info@jointsponsor.com
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Start Activity
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Episode 1
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Episode 2
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Episode 3
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