In this update recorded in November, 2019, originally for Florida providers, Dr. Baluch reviews Hepatitis A, B, and C. She includes information on Hepatitis C treatment and includes several valuable takeaway points.
Dr. Baluch provides an overview of how to structure an infection control program for a hospital. She reviews the different types of infection control precautions (standard, contact, droplet, special, airborne). She also addresses specific situations such as with measles and with stem cell transplant patients and other immunocompromised individuals.
Dr. Shewayish shows how public health is an essential component of economic prosperity. This is at no time more a poignant argument than in the midst of the current pandemic, where it is clear that the key to economic recovery is to vanquish the coronavirus outbreak. As we have seen in the Spring and early Summer of 2020, infectious diseases can affect a large swath of the business sector, from agriculture, to manufacturing, transportation, hospitality/travel, and many others. Some industries may have a business model that is incompatible with an infection outbreak. Others may ride the wave of increased demand that occurs as a result of the disease’s impact on society. A disease outbreak may also cause individuals to withdraw from the economy due to fear, job loss, or reduced services. Investing in public health is an endeavor that pays countless dividends. As the pandemic shows, societies around the world need to do more to invest in the health of their populations and in preparing for the next outbreak that may impact us.
Dr. Horn reviews several important tropical diseases, including Chagas disease (caused by Trypanosoma cruzii), spread by the Triatomid bug, African Trypanosomiasis, the cause of sleeping sickness, Cystercercosis, caused by the Pork tapeworm, and Buruli ulcer. He closes by discussing Onchocerciasis and its effect on significant areas of the developing world.
Dr. Perez-Lopez discusses the association of certain infectious diseases as a factor in the development of cancer. These so-called “oncogenic” microorganisms can induce both solid organ and bone-marrow-related malignancies through a variety of mechanisms. Among the oncogenic viruses, Epstein Barr Virus, Human Papilloma Virus, and the Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses are well-known causes of cancer, causing EBV lymphoma, cervical cancer, and hepatocellular cancers, respectively. But bacterial infections can also induce malignancies, as Helicobacter pylori’s association with MALT lymphoma demonstrates. In addition, the speaker explains, as we understand the pathogenic mechanisms behind many bacterial agents (e.g., Pseudomonas), we are learning ways we can use their infectious potential as a treatment mechanism against certain medical conditions. Dr. Perez-Lopez closes his talk by discussing how the oncogenic potential of viruses is now an emerging weapon in our therapy against many diseases. By utilizing their ability to incorporate their genome into cells, certain viruses are a potent tool in gene therapy via genetic modification.
Dr. Nlandu focuses on the opioid epidemic, and the increasing prevalence of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in American society. He begins by looking at the epidemiology of the opioid epidemic, including how pharmaceutical manufacturer-centered initiatives to promote increased awareness of pain and misinformation about the addictive potential of opiates led to increased prescribing by providers. Over time, this led to misuse of opiate products and the declaration of a public health emergency by HHS in 2017. He then defines opiate use disorder and discusses how to identify patients at risk for the syndrome. Next, Dr. Nlandu relates how patients with OUD are at risk for the development of a variety of infectious diseases, including bacterial and viral disorders. He discusses opiates and HIV, Opiates and Hepatitis B and C, and opiates and bacteremia and endocarditis. Dr. Nlandu also touches upon the administration of outpatient antibiotic therapy in patients with IV drug use history. Lastly, Dr. Nlandu mentions needle exchange programs and the application for an MAT waiver to treat patients with opioid use disorder.
Dr. Edward Drehs reviews the history of the 1918 Flu pandemic. He begins by discusses the events that led up to the outbreak, including World War I and other mass migration events. Then he relates the efforts instituted to try to contain the epidemic, similar to some of the control measures utilized today for Coronavirus. Next, he analyzes the consequences and lessons learned from the pandemic. Lastly, he evaluates the societal responses to the 1918 flu in comparison to the current outbreak.
Dr. Singh highlights several areas of historical infectious diseases milestones in the categories of antibiotics, germ theory sanitation, oral hydration therapy, tissue culture, and vaccines. For antibiotics, he discusses the development of Penicillin; for germ theory, he relates the contributions of infection pioneers like Ernest Koch, Ignaz Semmelweis, and Joseph Lister. The invention of sanitation techniques did more to reduce public mortality from deadly diseases than perhaps any other advancement of the 19th and early twentieth centuries, and this is discussed. Lastly, Dr. Singh acknowledges the contributions of Louis Pasteur in modern virology and the development of vaccines. From a lecture recorded in February, 2020.
Dr. Olga Klinkova reviews the definitions and common facts regarding urinary tract infections. She differentiates between complicated and uncomplicated UTIs, upper and lower tract urinary tract infections, as well as the clinical features of pyelonephritis. She also discusses the management of MDRO-related urinary tract infections. The lecture is presented in a case-based format to help the learner improve their management skills through the discussion of typical patient-based scenarios.
Dr. Toney presents an overview of adult vaccinations, focusing on the vaccines that are most important and relevant for the adult patient. He begins by discussing pneumococcal vaccines, whose guidelines can often be confusing because of the two different types of vaccines and their distinct administration schedules. He next talks about the influenza vaccine, differentiating the different types of vaccines, the efficacy of the flu shot, and potential future flu vaccine products. Next, he discusses the TDAP and the importance of receiving this vaccine given waning adult immunity for Pertussis. Dr. Toney also touches upon Shingles immunization and the significant advance of the recombinent shingles vaccine that is now available. Lastly, he discusses the MMR, Meningococcus, and Hepatitis vaccines.
