Redefining Success for VAP: 360° Approach

Medium: Online Interactive Activity
Accreditation Expired

Credit Hours

Pharmacist CPE: 1.25 (0.125 CEUs)

Activity Overview

This online activity is based on the proceedings of a continuing education symposium held on December 9, 2008, during the 43rd ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida.

This educational activity consists of three learning modules.

  1. In the introduction “Defining Success for VAP”, Dr. Nicolau discusses the burden of ventilator-associated pneumonia and defines what constitutes success when a ventilator-associated pneumonia episode does occur. Dr. Nicolau then introduces a typical case of ventilator-associated pneumonia and asks clinically important questions that lead into the next learning module.
  2. Scientific Evidence addresses the challenges introduced by Dr. Nicolau. The most current data are presented on etiology, resistance, appropriate therapy, PK/PD principles, and prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Please note that scientific evidence is supplemented with commentary by Dr. Burgess and Dr. Rodvold. You can listen to the faculty commentary by clicking on the audio buttons. Please note that some pages are long and you may need to scroll to view the complete information.
  3. Case Study learning module is designed to apply scientific evidence in practice setting. Throughout this Case Study about a patient with ventilator-associated pneumonia questions are posed. Please take a moment to think about what you would do. You will have the opportunity to compare your approach to that of the faculty by listening to the Faculty Response.

Educational Overview

Among nosocomial infections, hospital-acquired pneumonia (including ventilator-associated pneumonia) is the leading cause of death associated with substantial healthcare costs in US hospitals. Of serious concern are bacterial resistance and inappropriate antimicrobial management, which lead to compromised clinical outcomes. Early appropriate therapy is critical in (a) ensuring clinical success, (b) reducing the risk of resistance development, and (c) improving healthcare utilization—the 3 parameters of success of any management strategy. In this context, optimized dosing of antimicrobials, shortened duration of therapy, and de-escalation have proven to be successful strategies.

As equal partners in the healthcare team, pharmacists are responsible for appropriately and successfully managing these infections. Their increased responsibility in today’s healthcare environment has made knowledge of the latest scientific evidence pertaining to successful management strategies an imperative.

Target Audience

This activity has been developed for pharmacists who are responsible for the management of serious infections in hospitalized patients.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this activity is to educate pharmacists managing serious hospital infections on appropriate antimicrobial use to curb resistance development and improve resource utilization. With this knowledge, pharmacists will be able to fulfill an expanded role within the healthcare team.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participant should be able to:

  1. Identify therapeutic strategies that minimize the risk of resistance development during treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
  2. Recognize the importance of improving resource utilization in hospitals when treating serious infections.
  3. Discuss the role of clinical pharmacists in the overall management of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Faculty

David P. Nicolau, PharmD, FCCP, FIDSA

Director, Center for Anti-Infective Research and Development
Hartford Hospital
Hartford, CT

David S. Burgess, PharmD, FCCP

Clinical Professor of Pharmacy and Medicine
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX

Keith A. Rodvold, PharmD, FCCP, FIDSA

Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Medicine
Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL

Accreditation

Pharmacists

ACPEAccreditation 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 1.25 contact hours (0.125 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit for participation in this activity.

Credit Designation: Center has assigned 1.25 contact hours (0.125 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit for participation in this activity.

ACPE Universal Activity Number: 473-999-09-010-H01-P

Estimated time to complete activity: 1.25 hours

For questions regarding the accreditation of this activity, please contact Center at info@jointsponsor.com.

Method of Participation and Instructions for Credit

  1. Review the entire CPE information including target audience, learning objectives, and disclosures.
  2. Review all learning modules in their entirety.
  3. Print and complete the Post Test, Evaluation, and Credit Application form.
  4. 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) 450-3300.

Documentation of credit will be mailed within 4 weeks of receipt of the completed Post Test, Evaluation, and Credit Application form.

Note: If you have received credit by attending the live symposium or simulcast by the same name, you are not eligible to apply for credit for this online version.

Disclosure of Conflict 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.

Disclosures

Faculty

David P. Nicolau, PharmD, FCCP, FIDSA

Grant/research support and speakers bureaus: AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Cubist, Wyeth, Merck, Pfizer, and Schering-Plough

David S. Burgess, PharmD, FCCP

Advisory committees and speakers bureaus: Forest Pharmaceuticals and Wyeth

Grant/research support: AstraZeneca and Wyeth

Keith A. Rodvold, PharmD, FCCP, FIDSA

Consultant: Johnson & Johnson, Astellas, GlaxoSmithKline, Theravance, Targanta, and Intranasal Therapeutics

Advisory committees: Johnson & Johnson, Targanta, Baxter, and Pfizer

Speakers bureaus: Johnson & Johnson, Wyeth, Pfizer, and Schering-Plough

Planning Committee Members

Employees of Center for Independent Healthcare Education and Vemco MedEd have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure of Off-Label Use

During this activity, the following off-label uses of antimicrobial agents are discussed: doripenem (for the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia), ertapenem (administered via a 3-hour infusion), gentamicin (dosed once-daily), piperacillin/tazobactam (administered via continuous infusion), and tigecycline (for the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia).

Joint Sponsorship

This activity is jointly sponsored by Center for Independent Healthcare Education and Vemco MedEd.

Commercial Support

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Ortho-McNeil, Inc., administered by Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC.

Fee

There is no fee to participate in this educational activity.

Hardware/Software Requirements

Software

Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox
Note: Please disable any “pop-up blocker” features.

Adobe® Flash® Player to view the presentations (If you do not have Adobe® Flash® Player, you can download it for free from Adobe.com)
Adobe® Reader version 4 or above to view PDF files (If you do not have Adobe® Reader, you can download it for free from Adobe.com)

Connection Speed

Cable, DSL, or better of at least 300 Kbps

Hardware

PC or Macintosh to view the presentations
Audio Speakers

System Check

Please e-mail any questions or concerns to info@jointsponsor.com.

Copyright Statement

Copyright © 2009 Vemco MedEd, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Permission for accreditation use granted to Center for Independent Healthcare Education.

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.

Privacy Policy

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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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