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Full Course Description

Pharmacology of Infectious Diseases & Immunizations for Advanced Practice Clinicians

Watch this training and learn proper prescribing, patient education and monitoring procedures for a variety of drug regimens used to treat common acute and chronic infectious diseases. Choosing an antibacterial agent can be challenging, given the plethora of drugs available on the market and the emerging trend in bacterial resistance.

You will learn the pharmacology of different classes of antimicrobials used to treat infectious disease states encountered in clinical practice. Discover the spectrums of activity, pharmacokinetic characteristics and parameters for monitoring therapeutic outcomes. Emphasis is placed on the new antimicrobials and advances in evidence-based treatment guidelines.

You will finish this training better prepared to design appropriate and cost-effective drug regimens for improved therapeutic outcomes.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Develop antibiotic recommendations in response to microbiologic testing results.
  2. Describe clinical scenarios compelling for empiric coverage of resistant bacteria.
  3. Discriminate clinical scenarios requiring initiation of antibiotics.
  4. Choose appropriate risk factor–based empiric antibiotic regimens for acute infections.
  5. Recognize clinical scenarios necessitating avoidance of specific antibiotics based on side effect profiles.
  6. Identify clinical situations appropriate for newly approved antimicrobials.

Outline

Considerations for Successful Empiric Therapy

  • Spectrum of activity for commonly used antibiotics
  • Normal flora for infectious sites
  • Resistance associated with common bacteria
  • Pharmacodynamic influences on antibiotic dosing

Interpretation of Microbiologic Test Results

  • Gram stain results
  • Culture and sensitivity results
  • Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) evaluation
  • PCR results

Antibacterial Resistance

  • Trends
  • Mechanisms of resistance
  • Contributing factors
  • Antibiotic stewardship concepts

Antibiotic Related Allergies– Penicillin and ‘Sulfa’

  • Define true allergy versus side effect
  • Penicillin allergy and cephalosporin cross sensitivity
  • ‘Sulfa’ allergy

Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

  • Streptococcus pyogenes vs. MRSA
  • Review evidence for antibiotic management
  • Review IDSA treatment guidelines
  • Vancomycin AUC/MIC monitoring

Pneumonia

  • Review evidence for pathogen etiology
  • Review evidence for antibiotic management
  • IDSA/ATS community-acquired pneumonia treatment guidelines
  • Resistance risk factors and management
  • Review new antibiotics for MDR infections

Influenza

  • Review evidence for vaccine timing and use in older adults
  • Review of clinical trial data for therapeutics
  • Review IDSA/CDC treatment guidelines

Urinary Tract Infections

  • Review evidence for resistance trends
  • Review of clinical trial data for therapeutics
  • Antibiotics for MDR infections

Clostridium Difficile Infection

  • Risk factor evidence review
  • Compare antibiotic risk levels
  • Review IDSA treatment guidelines
  • Review of clinical trial data for therapeutics
  • Probiotics prophylaxis evidence review

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Advanced Practice Nurses
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Pharmacists
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 04/19/2024

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the Older Adults

We know that certain diseases disproportionately impact older adults, resulting in higher rates of hospitalizations, complications, and deaths. In this session, we will discuss the most common vaccine-preventable diseases in older adults, including transmission, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. We will also discuss the most current vaccine recommendations and therapies to care for the older adult.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Name five of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases in the older adult.
  2. Explain why vaccine-preventable diseases disproportionately impact older adults.
  3. Name the top recommended vaccines for older adults and the diseases they can help to prevent.
  4. List 4 strategies for improving vaccine rates in your older patients.

Outline

Burden of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the Older Adult

  • Why disease is worse in the older adult
  • Herd immunity
  • The immune response of the older adult
  • Economics of diseases
Influenza
  • Transmission
  • Impact of the disease in the older adult (Hospitalizations, deaths)
  • Diagnostics
  • Treatment
  • Vaccine recommendations
Covid-19
  • Still with us!
  • Why it is more severe in certain individuals (risk factors)
  • Transmission (what we have learned)
  • Diagnosis
  • Current treatments
  • Vaccine recommendations
  • What’s on the Horizon
RSV
  • Not just a childhood disease
  • Extent of the disease burden in older adults
  • Clinical symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Newest vaccines available
Pertussis
  • How are we doing in controlling this
  • Extent of the disease in older adults
  • Vaccine levels in the U.S.
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Vaccine recommendations
Shingles
  • Extent of the disease in older adults
  • Clinical signs and symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Vaccine recommendations
Pneumococcal
  • What is it and how does it affect older adults
  • How is it transmitted
  • Complications associated with it
  • Clinical presentations
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Vaccine recommendations
Hepatitis
  • Which types are a concern for older adults and which populations?
  • Transmission by type
  • Presentation of each type
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Vaccine recommendations
Special populations
  • Vaccines for special populations (Diabetes, traveler, missing vaccines)
What’s on the Horizon
  • Combination vaccines
  • Universal flu
  • Diseases with vaccines under development
Wrapping Up
  • What can the NP/PA do to improve vaccine levels?
  • Why your recommendation matters
  • Having difficult conversations

Target Audience

  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Advance Practice Registered Nurses
  • Nurses
  • Physician Assistants
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Physical Therapists
  • Speech Language Pathologists
  • Nursing Home Administrators
  • Social Workers

Copyright : 09/29/2023

Emerging and Current Infectious Diseases in the Critical Care Setting

Since the beginning of the 21st century, we have seen novel infectious diseases and infectious diseases not endemic to the US manifest themselves in an explosive way.  The daily news programs and the internet are providing sometimes overwhelming information that is often inadequate in scope.

In this session, Paul Langlois, APN, PhD, CCRN, CCNS, will provide the latest guidelines and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) on current infectious diseases affecting our patients: SARS-CoV2/COVID-19; Monkey pox; hepatitis-A, -B and –C; tuberculosis and Influenza.  In addition to history and physical assessment findings, Paul will also highlight recognition methods, FDA-approved and investigational medications and, where indicated, vaccines.  Case studies will solidify learning objectives.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Differentiate the medications which are used to manage the patient with COVID-19.
  2. Analyze the current methods to detect and treat monkeypox from other viruses of the genus orthopoxvirus.
  3. Create a medication regimen for a tuberculosis patient, both newly diagnosed and with drug-resistant tuberculosis.
  4. Distinguish Hepatitis A, B and C based upon their recognition and treatment.
  5. Formulate a differential diagnosis for a patient with suspected influenza.

Outline

SARS-CoV2/COVID-19 Updates

  • Pathophysiology of SARS-CoV2/COVID-19
  • Why so many variants?
  • Laboratory parameters for SARS-CoV2
  • Effectiveness of all the COVID-19 vaccines
  • Antiviral medications:  FDA approved vs. those in clinical trials
  • Long-COVID-19 signs and symptoms
Monkeypox
  • Where did it originate?
  • Diagnostics
  • Prevalence in the USA
  • Infection control measures
  • Medications: FDA approved and investigational
  • Vaccine priorities
Hepatitis A, B and C
  • Prevalence is rising in the USA
  • Patient history and presenting signs and symptoms
  • Diagnostic tests
  • Treatments and vaccines
Tuberculosis (TB): Still prevalent and highly contagious
  • What is Mycobacterium tuberculosis and how is it detected?
  • Newly diagnosed- and multi-drug resistant-TB in these geographic areas
  • First line medications for drug susceptible TB (doses, how often and how long to take)
  • Multi-drug resistant TB treatments
Influenza
  • Differentiating influenza from other conditions
  • Prophylactic medications
  • Antiviral treatments
  • Why do we need an annual influenza vaccine?
  • Combination COVID and influenza vaccine

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 11/08/2022

Sepsis and Septic Shock

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition and continues to have a high morbidity and mortality. Developing an understanding of early sepsis recognition, applying the appropriate treatment in a timely manner can help save lives. Nurses are essential in early recognition and early treatment.  The most current 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) Guidelines are useful in providing recommendations and rationale for treatment. Also new to the 2021 guidelines is a section on long-term outcomes and goals of care. As more and more individuals survive sepsis, resources to aid in their recovery are needed to improve long-term outcomes. This talk is relevant for individuals who care for patients with sepsis and septic shock and is a core measure for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid.  Nurses can make a difference in the lives of patients with sepsis and in the process improve compliance with the performance measure as well.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Describe the signs and symptoms of septic shock. 
  2. Discuss the appropriate treatment for sepsis and septic shock including the 3-hour and 6-hour sepsis bundle elements. 
  3. Integrate the 2021 SSC Guidelines to current patients with sepsis or septic shock. 
  4. Evaluate sepsis survivors for resources needs during recovery across the continuum of care. 

Outline

Sepsis Background Physiology 

  • Why Sepsis, Why Now?  
  • Sepsis Facts 
  • Stakeholders  

Sepsis Definitions 

  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) 
  • Sepsis 
  • Severe Sepsis 
  • Septic Shock  

Assessment Criteria 

  • Sequential [Sepsis-related] Organ Failure Assessment Score (Sofa)  
  • Most recent SSC guidelines -Sepsis Bundle Project (SEP) 
  • National Hospital Inpatient Quality Measures 
  • SEP-1 Early Management Bundle, Severe Sepsis/Septic Shock 

Implications for nursing practice 

  • Mortality based on organ failures 
  • Sepsis Bundles 
  • Early Patient Identification  
  • Screening Tools 
  • Early Treatment in ICU 

Long-term outcomes for survivors of sepsis 

  • Educate and Empower Patients & Family 
  • Goals of Care  
  • SCC Recommendations 
  • Shared Decision- Making Sepsis Survivors 
  • Return to Normal 
    • Psychological Support 
    • Physical Support 
    • Family Support  
    • Cognitive Impairment  
    • Self-Perception

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Physicians Assistants

Copyright : 10/07/2022

Preventing and Treating Viral Infections in Children

In this course, we will explore the intracellular life cycle of viral pathogens and review immunizations that prevent or mitigate common viral infections…such as influenza, herpes, varicella, and HepC.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Explore the intracellular life cycle of viral pathogens.
  2. Review of the common viral infections treated in children.
  3. Immunizations to prevent viral infections.
  4. Prescribing antiviral medications to children .

Outline

Intracellular life cycle of viral pathogens

Common viral infections treated in children 

Immunizations to prevent viral infections

  • Polio
  • MMR
  • Varicella 
  • Rotavirus 
  • Influenza
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Human papillomavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Ebola
  • Mpox 
Prescribing antiviral medications to children 
  • Antivirals for influenza
  • Antivirals for herpes
  • Antivirals for varicella 
  • PrEP 
  • Antivirals for Hepatitis C
Prescribing immune globulins for children 
 

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 08/21/2023

Pediatric Antibiotic Prescribing 101

With increasing antimicrobial resistance, our role as judicious prescribers of antibiotics in key. In this session, antibiotic pharmacology, antibiograms, and inappropriate antibiotic prescribing will be discussed. Recommendations for penicillin allergy will also be covered. 
 

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Analyze antibiotic resistance in the US and worldwide.
  2. Discuss antibiotic pharmacology.
  3. Use the local antibiogram to make prescribing decisions.
  4. Determine how to manage penicillin allergy.
  5. Describe the dangers of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.

Outline

Antimicrobial resistance in the US and worldwide

  • Trends in antibiotic resistance
  • Over-use of antibiotics leading to resistance
  • Emergence of resistant fungal infections 
  • How antibimicrobial resistance evolves 
  • Review of sensitivity 
Review of antibiotic pharmacology
  • Antibiotic classes 
  • Antibiotic pharmacodynamics

Use of antibiogram

  • Antibiotic choices based on pathogen susceptibility 
  • Understanding local resistance patterns 

Managing penicillin allergy 

  • Accurate diagnosis of penicillin allergy
  • Penicillin allergy testing 

Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing

  • Statistics 
  • Impact of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing 

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 08/21/2023

Pediatric Antibiotic Prescribing 201

Do you know how to prescribe the right drug for the right bug? Selecting the correct antibiotic to prescribe for treatment of respiratory, skin, urinary, and eye infections will be discussed. Antibiotic treatment for gonorrhea and chlamydia is also covered. After this session, you will feel confident to order the right antibiotic every time.
 

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Outline treatment guidelines for common pediatric respiratory infections.
  2. Determine treatment guidelines for common skin infections.
  3. Determine treatment guidelines for urinary tract infections.
  4. Outline treatment guidelines for eye infections.
  5. Prescribe antibiotics for treatment of gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Outline

Treating common pediatric respiratory infections

  • Otitis media 
  • URI vs sinus infections 
  • Pneumonia 
  • Group A strep

Treating common skin infections

  • Impetigo
  • Cellulitis/boils 
  • Paronychia 
  • Animal bites 
  • Treating urinary tract infections 
  • Infants and children under age 2 years
  • Young children 
  • Adolescents 

Treating eye infections 

Treating gonorrhea and chlamydia 

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 08/21/2023

Pediatric Immunization Update

The vaccine recommendations keep changing, with new vaccines and new combinations available. Learn about the latest CDC and ACIP recommendations for vaccines, travel recommendations, and working with families to overcome vaccine hesitancy.

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Discuss current CDC and ACIP pediatric immunization recommendations.
  2. Determine travel immunization recommendations.
  3. Describe the process of VAERS reporting.
  4. Analyze interventions to overcome vaccine hesitancy.
  5. Identify vaccines on the horizon.

Outline

Vaccine statistics

  • Worldwide 
  • US 
Current CDC and ACIP recommendations for pediatric and adolescent recommendations 
  • New vaccines
  • Updated recommendations for existing vaccines
  • Catch up schedules
  • Vaccinating for medical conditions
Travel recommendations
  • Resources for travel vaccine information 
  • Measles vaccine before travel
  • Hepatitis A vaccine before travel
  • Polio booster before travel to high risk areas

Vaccine adverse event reporting (VAERS) 

Overcoming vaccine hesitancy 

Vaccines on the horizon 

Target Audience

  • Nurses
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Physician Assistants

Copyright : 08/21/2023