Introduction and Instructions for Credit

What is Interactive CE?

Web-based patient cases that evolve based on the therapeutic options you choose. Throughout the cases, refer to the patient's medical chart, applicable literature, and clinical guidelines to help with your decision making. Compare your peers' selections with your own, and your rationale with that of our expert faculty.

This activity consists of 2 interactive patient cases, a learning assessment, and an evaluation form.

To complete this activity and receive a statement of credit, participants must

Features of Interactive CE

There is no fee associated with this activity.

This educational program is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from AstraZeneca LP.

Intended Audience

This educational activity is designed for physicians (hospitalists and infectious disease specialists), advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, and clinical pharmacists.

Activity Rationale and Purpose

Strategies employed to maximize clinical outcomes in patients treated for health care-associated infections are multifaceted and include stringent infection control measures, prompt and adequate use of empiric therapy, and the appropriate drug, dose, and duration of treatment. The provision of optimal care to patients in the hospital is paramount to improve clinical outcomes as well as reduce the chance of promoting resistant pathogens. Clinicians are faced with daily dilemmas in the selection of antibacterial agents because of confounding factors such as patients with coexisting conditions, restricted formularies, and complications of therapy.

The purpose of providing this case-based, interactive educational activity for physicians, nurses, and pharmacists is to afford a scientific rationale and resources to guide and support critical decisions made in the treatment of patients with health care–associated infections.

Learning Objectives

Management of Diabetic Foot Infections

After participating in this activity, health care professionals should be able to

Prevention and Treatment of Postoperative Surgical Site Infections

After participating in this activity, health care professionals should be able to

When choosing among continuing education activities, clinicians should select those that are appropriate for their educational needs. Participants in educational activities have the implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional effectiveness. Clinicians should reflect on this activity and its applicability to their own patient population, and then identify and implement appropriate practice changes.

Faculty

Kevin Garey, PharmD
Assistant Professor
University of Houston College of Pharmacy
Houston, Texas

Thomas Lodise, PharmD
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Albany College of Pharmacy
Albany, New York

Christopher Miller, PharmD, BCPS
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Clinical Pharmacist, AMC Division of HIV Medicine
Albany College of Pharmacy
Albany, New York

Editorial Board

Michelle Dickey, MS, CRNP
Nurse Practitioner
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Division of Infectious Diseases

Joanna Ellis, MSN, CRNP-BC
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Department of Surgery Division of Traumatology and Surgical Critical Care

Joseph L. Kuti, PharmD
Associate Director, Clinical and Economic Studies
The Center for Anti-Infective Research and Development
Hartford Hospital

John E. McGowan, Jr, MD
Professor, Department of Epidemiology
The Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University

Keith A. Rodvold, PharmD
Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Associate Professor of Medicine in Pharmacy
University of Illinois at Chicago

Andrew F. Shorr, MD, MPH
Associate Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care
Associate Professor of Medicine
Washington Hospital Center

Editorial Board Disclosure Information

All faculty are expected to disclose any real or apparent conflicts of interest that may have a direct bearing on the subject matter of this continuing education activity. Participants have the responsibility to assess the impact (if any) of the disclosed information on the educational value of the activity. Editorial board members have been offered a modest honorarium from the accredited provider for their participation in this activity. The editorial board has disclosed the following information:

Continuing Education

Participants must partake in the entire activity, complete and submit the evaluation form to the Meniscus Educational Institute.

Statement of Credit. Participants who successfully complete this activity (including completion and submission of the evaluation form) will be issued a statement of credit via e-mail or US mail within 4 weeks.

Physicians. The Meniscus Educational Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Meniscus Educational Institute designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians only should claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Pharmacists. This educational activity is sponsored by the Meniscus Educational Institute. The Meniscus Educational Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. The ACPE Universal Program Number assigned to the web based activity, for 1.0 contact hours (0.1 CEU), is 429-000-07-002-H01.

Nurses. CClogo.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="60" height="57" align="right" />This activity for 1.0 contact hours is provided by the Meniscus Educational Institute.
The Meniscus Educational Institute is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Accreditation refers to recognition of educational activities only and does not imply approval or endorsement of any product by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider No. 13164, for 1.0 contact hours.

Faculty Disclosure Information

All faculty are expected to disclose any real or apparent conflicts of interest that may have a direct bearing on the subject matter of this continuing education activity. Participants have the responsibility to assess the impact (if any) of the disclosed information on the educational value of the activity. All faculty have been offered a modest honorarium from the accredited provider for their participation in this activity. The faculty have disclosed the following information:

Kevin Garey, PharmD, receives lecture fees for speaking at invitation of commercial interest from Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical Inc, and grant and research support from Merck & Co.

Thomas Lodise, PharmD, is a consultant or advisory board member for Cubist, Pfizer, and Elan; he receives lecture fees for speaking at invitation of commercial interest for Pfizer, Cubist, and Elan, and he receives grant and research support from Elan.

Christopher Miller, PharmD, BCPS, receives lecture fees for speaking at invitation of commercial interest for Gilead Sciences.

Michelle Dickey, MS, CRNP, has nothing to disclose

Joanna Ellis, MSN, CRNP-BC, has nothing to disclose.

Joseph L. Kuti, PharmD, serves as a consultant or advisory board member for AstraZeneca, Elan Corporation, Schering-Plough Corporation, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and receives grant and research support from AstraZeneca, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Elan Corporation, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and Theravance Inc.

John E. McGowan, Jr, MD, serves as a consultant or advisory board member for Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Dade Behring Inc, Merck & Co, Inc, Replidyne, Inc, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and receives grant and research support from AstraZeneca, bioM¨¦rieux, Elan Corporation, Johnson and Johnson, and Pfizer Inc.

Keith A. Rodvold, PharmD, serves as a consultant, and advisory board member, and speaks at invitation of commercial interest for Abbott Laboratories, Astellas Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Baxter Pharmaceuticals, Ortho-McNeil, Inc, Pfizer Inc, GlaxoSmithKline, Schering-Plough Corporation, Theravance Inc, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and receives grant and research support from Roche Laboratories, Inc, and sanofi-aventis, and has equity ownership/stock options with Amgen Inc and Pfizer Inc.

Andrew F. Shorr, MD, MPH, serves as a consultant, and advisory board member, and speaks at invitation of commercial interest for AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co, Inc, Ortho Biotech, Ortho-McNeil, Inc, Pfizer Inc, and sanofi-aventis, and receives grant and research support from AstraZeneca, Ortho-McNeil, Inc, Ortho Biotech, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer Inc, GlaxoSmithKline, and sanofi-aventis.

Product Disclosure

Reflecting standard practice, often requires the off-label or investigational use of some products, this educational activity includes information about many drugs. All faculty participating in continuing education activities are expected to disclose the approved or investigational status (related to the subject matter of this activity - skin and soft tissue infections) of all products and devices under discussion. This information, as of the time of printing, is summarized briefly below. In addition, primary references and full prescribing information should be consulted for complete information. Clinicians have the professional responsibility to ensure that drugs are prescribed and used appropriately, based on their own clinical judgment and accepted standards of care.

The following agents have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of infectious diseases in the United States: amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin),* cefepime (Maxipime), cefpodoxime (Vantin), ceftazidime (Fortaz),* ceftriaxone (Rocephin),* ciprofloxacin (Cipro),* colistin (Various), fluconazole (Diflucan),* imipenem/cilastin (Primaxin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), linezolid (Zyvox), meropenem (Merrem), piperacillin/tazobactam (Zosyn), tobramycin (Nebcin),* trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Various),* vancomycin (Vancocin).*

*Generic may be available in the United States.

Adapted from Drug Facts and Comparisons. St Louis, Mo: Facts and Comparisons; 2006

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect those of the grantor or publisher. Some products and procedures discussed in this activity may be investigational in nature. The provider does not approve or endorse any particular product(s). This activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management; primary references and full prescribing information should be consulted.

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Use of Personal Information Collected by Meniscus Limited

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Help

Minimum System Requirements

Technical Support

If you wish to report any problems participating in this activity or have any comments or suggestions, please address e-mail to support@meniscusedu.com.

Site Credits

Published by the Meniscus Educational Institute

Rebecca S. Finley, PharmD, MS, President, MEI
Karen Abbas, RN, MSN, AOCN, Education Director, Nursing
Alicia Reese, PharmD, MS, BCPS, Education Director, Pharmacy
Karen DeLuca, Operations Manager
Theresa Maloney, Senior Project Manager
Leslie Fenton, Manager, Editorial Services
Basia Seaman, Vice President, Creative Services
George Burns, Chief Technology Officer
Lois Trench-Hines, Chief Executive Officer

Contents

To begin a case study, click on its title.

√ Management of Diabetic Foot Infections

√ Prevention and Treatment of Postoperative Surgical Site Infections

When finished reviewing both case studies, click 'Go to Learning Assessment and Evaluation' below.

Go to Learning Assessment and Evaluation

Learning Assessment and Evaluation

There are two choices for completing the learning assessment and evaluation:

If you successfully complete the learning assessment and evaluation form and have provided an e-mail address, you will receive your statement of credit via e-mail. If you have not provided an e-mail address, your statement of credit will be sent to you via US mail within 4 weeks.