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Opioids and Infectious Diseases: The Dual Epidemic

By Zola Nlandu, MD

April 20th, 2020

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.

The 1918 Flu Pandemic

By Edward Drehs, MD

April 1st, 2020

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.

Milestones in Infectious Diseases

By Hareesh Singam, MD

February 21st, 2020

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.

Urinary Tract Infections: Learning Through Three Cases

By Olga Klinkova, MD

February 5th, 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.

Current Immunization Practice: The Role of Adult Vaccination

By John Toney, MD, FIDSA

January 27th, 2020

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.

Don’t Miss It: Ambulatory Care Infectious Diseases Emergencies

By John Toney, MD, FIDSA

January 15th, 2020

Dr. Toney, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of South Florida, conducts a case-based discussion regarding Infectious diseases syndromes for which it is essential that a provider not miss the diagnosis in an ambulatory care setting. Dr. Toney initiates each case by presenting a case, then providing choices of possible answers, followed by clinical pearls relevant to the case. At the conclusion of this informative and interactive presentation, it is hoped that the audience will have a greater understanding of several critical ID ambulatory care emergencies that every provider needs to recognize.

Clinical Review of Three BMT Cases

By Aliyah Baluch, MD, Msc

January 6th, 2020

Dr. Aliyah Baluch, Chief BMT ID clinician at the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute reviews 3 interesting BMT-related ID cases and offers insights into their management. From a lecture originally recorded in December, 2019.

Navigating Beta-Lactam Allergies

By Tiffany Ward

November 22nd, 2019

Dr. Ward begins her presentation by reviewing the impact of beta-lactam allergies on the healthcare system. She then discusses the classification system for the different types of hypersensitivity reactions. The significance of beta-lactam allergy cross reactivity is then mentioned. She goes on to explain how beta-lactam allergy testing is performed. Lastly, she identifies strategies to improve the documentation of beta-lactam allergy reporting.

 

Emerging Infections: Sexually Transmitted Infections

By Kami Kim, MD

November 15th, 2019

Dr. Kami Kim, Chief of Infectious Diseases at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, discusses an important subset of emerging infections: sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). She initially reviews the current epidemiology of STIs in the U.S. She differentiates the more common and less common STIs. She goes on to discuss risk factors for sexually transmitted infections. She focuses on Neisseria gonorrhea infections, and discusses epidemiology, drug resistance, and treatment changes. She closes by sharing information on the diverse syndromes associated with Chlamydia trachomatis, including genital ulcer disease, urethritis, and cervicitis, extragenital infections, and pelvic inflammatory disease, and shares general treatment strategies and pitfalls.

Community Acquired Pneumonia: Update on Diagnosis and Management

By Olga Klinkova, MD

October 30th, 2019

Dr. Olga Klinkova, Infectious Diseases Clinician at the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, discusses the recent updates to the diagnosis and management of community acquired pneumonia. Dr. Klinkova begins her talk by referring to the recently introduced IDSA-ATS guidelines, released in August, 2019. She then discusses updates in the microbiology of CAP, including the most likely organisms, the role of MRSA, atypicals and the significance of viral pathogens. She then mentions diagnostic modalities and the relevance of clinical prediction algorithms such as CURB-65 and the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI). Treament considerations including outpatient versus inpatient, and inpatient non-severe versus inpatient severe management are also differentiated. Specific treatment agents and therapy durations are also mentioned. Lastly, she discusses options for the management of MRSA pneumonia and aspiration syndromes.