Program Overview
The rise of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms globally is now considered one of the most critical public health threats of the 21st century. The call for action against the threat of antibiotic resistance has now reached the highest levels of government and health care. For example, the Office of the President of the United States has convened the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, and the World Health Organization has issued its Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance with support from the United Nations. Thus, detecting, preventing, and controlling antibiotic resistance is now more urgent than ever and requires a strategic, coordinated, and sustained effort. There remain inconsistencies among various clinical settings regarding the correct approach to diagnose and treat infections caused by resistant microorganisms because of limited knowledge concerning the mechanisms of resistance and also because of limited treatment options. Similarly, there are several overlapping and confusing strategies to prevent the spread of these organisms to other patients in the clinical setting. Lacking robust clinical data, physicians (including infectious diseases specialists) have to rely on data from in vitro and possibly animal studies to make treatment decisions. This logic is valid only when the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and their clinical impact are fully understood.
Target Audience
Practicing Physicians, Infectious Disease Specialists, Other Healthcare Professionals, Fellows, Residents, and Medical Students
Objectives
• Acquire a working knowledge of the major mechanisms of antibiotic resistance present in hospitals-associated pathogens
• Identify the best diagnostic modalities for infections caused by MDR organisms
• Differentiate between rapid phenotypic and genotypic tests for diagnosis of resistance
• Implement whole genome sequencing (WGS) to design strategies for infection control and antibiotic stewardship
• Identify the best genomic tools to track outbreaks and transmission of MDR organisms
• Identify the main strategies of antibiotic stewardship and how to implement them in specific clinical settings
• Apply a logical algorithm to introduce rapid diagnostic tests and how they can impact patient’s outcome
• Differentiate between successful infection control and antibiotic stewardship strategies using latest generation diagnostic tools
Educational Methods
Lecture, Symposium, Case Study, Panel Discussion, and Case Study
Evaluation
Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.
Accreditation/Credit Designation
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Baylor College of Medicine and Gulf Coast Consortia for Quantitative Biomedical Sciences. Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Baylor College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 20.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.