The New Antifungal Toolkit: The Pharmacopeia and Beyond is an Internet CME curriculum that will provide current information about new FDA-approved agents/formulations for the management of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) and evaluate the role of these newer options in strategies to optimize antifungal therapy. As such, the activity will move beyond the typical drug pharmacopeia to address dosing in special populations (eg, pediatrics, patients with renal insufficiency, specific host types), health economic data, as well as comparative effectiveness, where appropriate. The activity will also include a broader pharmacopeia of all FDA-approved agents for invasive mycoses as a useful point of comparison as well as a practice reference. Two updates cover additional FDA approvals and keep the learner up to date as research data for newer agents mature and clinical experience grows.
Update 2 Module
Release Date: 09/30/2015
Expiration Date: 09/29/2016
Estimated Time to Complete the Activity: 0.5 hrs
Media: Interactive, text-based activity
Update 1 Module
Release Date: 04/14/2015
Expiration Date: 04/13/2016
Estimated Time to Complete the Activity: 0.5 hrs
Media: Interactive, text-based activity
Original Content Module:
Release Date: 08/28/2014
Expiration Date: 08/27/2015
Estimated Time to Complete the Activity: 1.5 hrs
Media: Interactive, text-based activity
Recent surveys of learners attending or participating in Mycoses Study Group Educational & Research Consortium CME activities identified keeping up to date on emerging therapies and diagnostics as the target audience’s primary antifungal educational need. Given recent FDA approvals as well as emerging advances in the field, there is a strong educational need to provide clinicians with expert-led insights as well as practical information about these newer agents/formulations in the context of the total antifungal pharmacopeia. These clinicians need to move beyond specific drug knowledge and integrate the information about these newer agents into a well-informed, strategic approach to the overall prophylactic, empiric, preemptive, and definitive treatment of IFIs (ie, competency). Furthermore, learners show knowledge gaps regarding existing antifungal agents, including appropriate dosing in children, role of therapeutic drug monitoring, antimicrobial spectrum, and use of these agents in special populations. Finally, given current requirements of the modern healthcare environment, clinicians also need mastery in antifungal stewardship, which requires knowledge and facility in evaluating the comparative effectiveness as well as pharmacoeconomic data for antifungal agents/strategies in order to inform prudent decision making.
At the conclusion of this activity, the participants will be better able to:
This activity is directed to infectious disease physicians, hematologists/oncologists, critical care physicians, transplant physicians, pathologists, pharmacists, pediatricians, and other healthcare providers responsible for 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 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 1.5 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 speakers, 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:
DIMITRIOS P. KONTOYIANNIS, MD, SCD, FACP, FIDSA
RESEARCH SUPPORT:
Merck & Co; Pfizer, Inc; Astellas Pharma US
ADVISORY BOARD:
Merck & Co; Astellas Pharma US
SPEAKER’S BUREAU:
Merck & Co; Pfizer, Inc; Astellas Pharma US
INVESTIGATIONAL/OFF-LABEL USE OF DRUGS DISCLOSURE:
New therapeutics for invasive mycoses
RUSSELL E. LEWIS, PHARMD, FCCP, BCPS
RESEARCH SUPPORT:
Gilead Inc; Pfizer, Inc.
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 or an Internet Explorer (version 8.0 or greater) web browser, JavaScript enabled, connected to the Internet (high speed connection preferred).
Terranova Medica, LLC, and UNMC CCE are committed to protecting the privacy of those who choose to participate in activities on funguscme.org. This information below describes our security policies for safeguarding personal information as well as the rationale for collection and use of personal information.
Security/safeguarding personal information
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 Astellas Scientific and Medical Affairs Inc. and Merck & Co.
For further information, contact Tom Davis by telephone (877-276-4523), fax (805-648-8070), or email (tdavis@terranovamedica.com).
Copyright ©2015 UNMC CCE; Terranova Medica, LLC; and MSG-ERC.
