CME/CE Information

When What We Do Is Not Enough to Treat Infections:
How and Why to Utilize Procalcitonin

How and Why to Utilize Procalcitonin in the Midst of COVID-19

TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians and other healthcare professionals, working in the care and treatment of patients with COVID-19 and other bacterial infections.

EDUCATIONAL GOAL

The goal of this activity is to improve clinicians’ knowledge of the role of Procalcitonin biomarker assays in directing appropriate management of patients with COVID-19 with or without secondary bacterial infections.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • List the current biomarkers used in the management of bacterial infection.
  • Describe the pathophysiology and kinetics of procalcitonin.
  • Describe how procalcitonin can aid in severity assessment and evaluation of anti-infective therapy choices.
  • Explain the role of procalcitonin in the context of Antibiotic Stewardship.
  • Recognize clinical and health economic outcomes of PCT guided therapy.

ACCREDITATION

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 CMEsolutions and CE Symmetry. The CMEsolutions is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The CMEsolutions designates this enduring internet activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.™ Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The CMEsolutions is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This program is approved for 1 contact hours (0.1 CEUs).  
ACPE Program Number: 0274-9999-20-001-H01-P

Start Date: June 22, 2020       End Date: June 22, 2021

FEES

There is no registration fee for this activity.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Study CME Information Page
  2. View Video
  3. Complete evaluation, credit request form, and your credit statement will be available to download immediately. If you are requesting ACPE credit, your participation will be reported to the CPE Monitor site and be available within 30 days. 

FACULTY AND DISCLOSURES

CMEsolutions requires everyone in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any relevant financial conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by CMEsolutions for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations. CMEsolutions has resolved all conflicts of interest prior to this educational activity.

Michael R. Broyles, PharmD

Director of Pharmacy and Lab Services, Five Rivers Medical Center
Pocahontas, AR

Michael Broyles has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:  Consulting, Teaching, Speaking-ThermoFisher, bioMerieux, Roche Diagnostics, Fujirebio, and Abbott Diagnostics


Eric H. Gluck, MD

Critical Care Pulmonologist, Swedish Hospital
Chicago, IL

Eric Gluck has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.


James F. Neuenschwander II, MD

Attending Emergency Physician, Genesis Healthcare System
Mount Vernon, OH

James Neuenschwander has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:  Consultant, Speaker Bureau – ThermoFisher.


Planner Disclosures

No member of CMEsolutions or CE Symmetry has any relevant financial relationships to disclose in regards to this activity.

Graham Batte

Director, Client Services, CE Symmetry
Clearwater, FL

Nothing to Disclose

Robert Batte

Principal, CE Symmetry
Oldsmar, FL

Nothing to Disclose

Susan DeCenzo O’Brien, MS, RPh

Manager, Editorial Services, CE Symmetry
Falmouth, MA

Nothing to Disclose

Joel Brill, MD, FACP

Professor of Medicine, University of Arizona and Midwestern University
Scottsdale, AZ

Nothing to Disclose

John DeHart, BS

Managing Partner, CMEsolutions
Tucson, AZ

Nothing to Disclose

Off-label Use

This activity may contain discussion of unlabeled and/or investigational uses of agents not approved by the FDA.  Please consult the prescribing information for each product.

Commercial Support

Commercial Support for this live educational activity has been provided by the following:
Abbott Laboratories

Privacy Policy

CMEsolutions Privacy and Confidentiality Policy:  www.online-med-edu.com/privacypolicy.pdf
CMEsolutions can be contacted at info@cmesolutions.org.

Software Requirements 

PC
Windows 2000 or higher
Internet Explorer 5.5 or Firefox
Adobe Acrobat Reader 

MAC
Mac OS 10.2.8
Safari
Adobe Acrobat Reader




Biomarker Technology in Antimicrobial Stewardship:
 The Role of Procalcitonin

TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians and other healthcare professionals working in the care and treatment of patients with bacterial infections and the use and value of Procalcitonin assay values.

EDUCATIONAL GOAL

The goal of this activity is to provide practitioners with practical guidance on the utilization of PCT in the management of suspected bacterial infections and its impact on antimicrobial stewardship.  Appropriate utilization of PCT biomarker assays have proven to be of value in reducing unnecessary antimicrobial therapy.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Explain why obtaining procalcitonin (PCT) levels early in the disease process aids in the continuum of care
  • List the best times to obtain measurements to evaluate effectiveness of antibiotic therapy, based upon when PCT plasma levels peak, and its elimination half-life
  • Describe how monitoring PCT may result in reducing the number of days on antibiotic therapy and the subsequent reduction in C. difficile infections
  • Identify treatment decisions involving antibiotics more effectively by incorporating PCT biomarker technology
  • Explain the use of PCT assays to differentiate sterile from non-sterile inflammation

ACCREDITATION

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 CMEsolutions and CE Symmetry. The CMEsolutions is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The CMEsolutions designates this enduring internet activity 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.

The CMEsolutions is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This program is approved for 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEUs).  
ACPE Program Number: 0274-9999-20-008-H01-P 

Start Date: November 16, 2020       End Date: November 16, 2021

FEES

There is no registration fee for this activity.

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Study CME Information Page
  2. View Video
  3. Complete evaluation, credit request form, and your credit statement will be sent within two weeks.  Pharmacy Credits will be submitted once your attendance, NABP#, and birthdate (MM/DD), have been received.


FACULTY AND DISCLOSURES

CMEsolutions requires everyone in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any relevant financial conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by CMEsolutions for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations. CMEsolutions has resolved all conflicts of interest prior to this educational activity.

Michael R. Broyles, PharmD

Director of Pharmacy and Lab Services, Five Rivers Medical Center
Pocahontas, AR
Michael Broyles has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:  Consulting, Teaching, Speaking-ThermoFisher, bioMerieux, Roche Diagnostics, Fujirebio, and Abbott Diagnostics

Eric H. Gluck, MD

Critical Care Pulmonologist, Swedish Hospital
Chicago, IL
Eric Gluck has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: Consulting, Teaching, Speaking - ThermoFisher

James F. Neuenschwander II, MD

Attending Emergency Physician, Genesis Healthcare System
Mount Vernon, OH
James Neuenschwander has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:  Consultant, Speaker Bureau – ThermoFisher.


Planner Disclosures

No member of CMEsolutions or CE Symmetry has any relevant financial relationships to disclose in regards to this activity.

Graham Batte

Director, Client Services, CE Symmetry
Clearwater, FL
Nothing to Disclose

Robert Batte

Principal, CE Symmetry
Oldsmar, FL
Nothing to Disclose

Susan DeCenzo O’Brien, MS, RPh

Manager, Editorial Services, CE Symmetry
Falmouth, MA
Nothing to Disclose

Joel Brill, MD, FACP

Professor of Medicine, University of Arizona and Midwestern University
Scottsdale, AZ
Nothing to Disclose

John DeHart, BS

Managing Partner, CMEsolutions
Tucson, AZ
Nothing to Disclose

Off-label Use

This activity may contain discussion of unlabeled and/or investigational uses of agents not approved by the FDA.  Please consult the prescribing information for each product.

Commercial Support

Commercial Support for this live educational activity has been provided by the following:
Abbott Laboratories

Privacy Policy

CMEsolutions Privacy and Confidentiality Policy:  www.online-med-edu.com/privacypolicy.pdf
CMEsolutions can be contacted at info@cmesolutions.org.

Software Requirements 

PC
Windows 2000 or higher
Internet Explorer 5.5 or Firefox
Adobe Acrobat Reader 

MAC
Mac OS 10.2.8
Safari
Adobe Acrobat Reader