

Clinical Decision Making in Mycology: Working Through Difficult Scenarios is the enduring activity from the Mycoses Study Group Education & Research Consortium (MSG-ERC) CME symposium presented at ICAAC 2014. This activity is designed to address the relationship between decision making and outcomes in invasive mycoses. After an introduction and review of emerging therapeutic and diagnostic options, the activity will turn to an in-depth exploration of 2 cases—a hematologic malignancy and an intensive care unit case—that illustrate key decision points affecting potential outcomes across the disease spectrum. By using a branching, decision-tree approach that follows the cases out to potential logical conclusions, the activity challenges learners to evaluate their own practice patterns in an effort to overcome barriers and achieve better outcomes for invasive fungal infections (IFIs).
Release Date: 12/15/2014
Expiration Date: 12/14/2015
Estimated Time to Complete the Activity: 1.75 hrs
Media: Text-based presentation, interactive
Despite advances in IFI management, unmet needs remain for these challenging conditions. Many factors affect IFI outcomes—some are modifiable, while others are not. Do we know which decisions under clinician control are most critical for achieving optimal outcomes in IFI management? What kind of difference do newer diagnostics and therapeutics make or do we anticipate they will make? Can clinicians recognize barriers to effective treatment and overcome them to improve patient outcomes?
In this text-based activity, Clinical Decision Making in Mycology: Working Through Difficult Scenarios, the learner is challenged to address key decision points in the management of IFIs for a patient in the ICU as well as for a patient with a hematologic malignancy. The activity challenges learners to evaluate their own practice patterns in an effort to overcome barriers and achieve better outcomes for IFIs. Furthermore, learners will also be guided to consider the potential role of emerging diagnostics and therapeutics and their likely impact on outcomes in these settings.
After completing this activity, the participants should be better able to:
This activity is directed to physicians who specialize in infectious diseases, hematology/oncology, critical care, transplant, and pediatrics as well as pharmacists and other healthcare providers involved in the management of invasive mycoses.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education; Terranova Medica, LLC; and the Mycoses Study Group Educational and Research Consortium.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
As a provider accredited by ACCME, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education must ensure balance, objectivity, independence, and scientific rigor in its educational activities. Faculty are encouraged to provide a balanced view of therapeutic options by utilizing either generic names or the trade names of several to ensure impartiality.
All faculty, planning committee members and others in a position to control continuing medical education content participating in a University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education activity are required to disclose relationships with commercial interests. A commercial interest is any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. Disclosure of these commitments and/or relationships is included in these activity materials so that participants in the activity may formulate their own judgments in interpreting its content and evaluating its recommendations.
This activity may include presentations in which faculty may discuss off-label and/or investigational use of pharmaceuticals or instruments not yet FDA-approved. Participants should note that the use of products outside currently FDA-approved labeling should be considered experimental and are advised to consult current prescribing information for FDA-approved indications.
The following indicates the disclosure declaration information and the nature of those commercial relationships:
PETER G. PAPPAS, MD, FACP
RESEARCH SUPPORT:
Astellas Pharma US, Merck & Co, Gilead Sciences, Scynexis, T-2 Biosystems
ADVISORY BOARD:
Astellas Pharma US, Merck & Co, Gilead Sciences, Scynexis, T-2 Biosystems
INVESTIGATIONAL/OFF-LABEL USE OF DRUGS DISCLOSURE:
Discussion of investigational agents and diagnostics for IFIs
OLIVER A. CORNELY, MD, FACP, FIDSA
RESEARCH SUPPORT:
3M, Actelion, Astellas Pharma, Basilea, Bayer, Celgene, Cubist, Genzyme, Gilead, GSK,
Merck/MSD, Miltenyi, Optimer, Pfizer, Quintiles, Viropharma
ADVISORY BOARD/CONSULTANT:
3M, Astellas, Basilea, Cubist, Da Volterra, Daiichi Sankyo, F2G, Gilead, GSK, Merck/MSD,
Optimer, Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur, Summit/Vifor
SPEAKER’S BUREAU:
Astellas, Gilead, Merck/MSD, Pfizer
INVESTIGATIONAL/OFF-LABEL USE OF DRUGS DISCLOSURE:
Discussion of investigational agents and diagnostics for IFIs
DAVID R. ANDES, MD
RESEARCH SUPPORT:
Astellas Pharma US; Cubist; Actelion
ADVISORY BOARD/CONSULTANT:
Astellas Pharma US; Merck & Co; Cubist
INVESTIGATIONAL/OFF-LABEL USE OF DRUGS DISCLOSURE:
Discussion of investigational agents and diagnostics for IFIs
LOIS COLBURN
UNMC Center for Continuing Education
No conflicts to disclose.
BRENDA C. RAM, CMP, CCMEP
UNMC Center for Continuing Education
No conflicts to disclose.
ALISON FREIFELD, MD
University of Nebraska Medical Center
No conflicts to disclose.
LISA A. TUSHLA, PHD, H(ASCP)
Terranova Medica, LLC
No conflicts to disclose
To receive a CME certificate of participation, participants should:
To participate, you will need access to a computer (either MAC or PC), tablet, or smart phone, with a Chrome (version 22.0.1229.94 or greater) web browser, Firefox (version 3.6 or greater) web browser, Safari (version 6 or greater) web browser, or an Internet Explorer (version 8.0 or greater) web browser, JavaScript enabled, connected to the Internet (high speed connection preferred), and cookies MUST be enabled on your browser.
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This website has physical and procedural safeguards in place to prevent unauthorized access to personal information used to access this website.
Collection and use of personal information
To earn CME credits using the website, the UNMC CCE requires submission of certain personally identifiable information. The required items include: first name, last name, degree, and e-mail address. These items are necessary to award and track the credits that participants may earn after completing the program. To obtain credit, learners must complete an evaluation of the CME activity. This information is used in a continuous improvement process to enhance the learning experience of future programs.
Terranova Medica, LLC, and UNMC CCE do not transfer, sell, or share personal information with outside parties. We will not disclose the information unless required in a legal proceeding.
The opinions or views expressed in this continuing education activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Center for Continuing Education; the Mycoses Study Group Education & Research Consortium; and Terranova Medica, LLC.
Healthcare professionals and other individuals should review and consider other publications and materials on the subject before relying solely upon the information contained within this educational activity.
There is no charge for this activity.
This activity is supported by independent educational grants from; Merck & Co, Inc; Gilead Sciences Europe, Ltd.; T2 Biosystems; and MiraVista Diagnostics.
For further information, contact Tom Davis by telephone (877-276-4523), fax (805-648-8070), or email (tdavis@terranovamedica.com).
Copyright ©2014 UNMC CCE; Terranova Medica, LLC; and MSG-ERC.