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Syphilis: An Epidemic

By Kirtan Amin, MD

November 15th, 2024

Dr. Kitan Amin, Infectious Diseases Fellow at the USF Morsani College of Medicine, presents this talk on the current state of syphilis in the U.S. Dr. Amin begins by discussing the epidemiology and classification of Treponemial organisms. The history of Syphilis is then reviewed, including the origins of the disease in the new world and the unfortunate history of the Tuskegee trials. Next, the clinical manifestations of Syphilis are detailed, including primary, secondary, late latent, and neurosyphilis. The unique effects of Syphilis in HIV are also covered. Lastly, syphilis testing and treatment are reviewed, including the effects of the recent Benzathine penicillin shortage and alternatives to Penicillin for treatment.

Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Cushings Disease

By Cilia Nazef, MD

November 8th, 2024

Dr Cilia Nazef, Infectious diseases Fellow at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, explores how Pneumocystis jirovecii, a fungal infection typically affecting immunocompromised patients, can also affect patients suffering from hypercortisolism. Dr. Nazef begins by examining different cases of Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia (PJP) in patients with Cushings disease. Next, she further explains the immunologic basis behind how the hypercortisol state induces immunosuppression. Dr. Nazef closes by examining the basis for PJP prophylaxis in Cushings disease patients, and the shortcomings of the current literature in advocating prophylaxis options.

HIV in Older Patients

By Todd Wills, MD

October 29th, 2024

Dr. Todd Wills, Professor of Medicine with the Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida, reviews the unique complications and issues that can occur in the elderly HIV patient. Dr. Wills begins by reviewing the epidemiology of HIV by age group, including the fact that the HIV positive population is growing older with time. Dr. Wills also discusses issues regarding polypharmacy and medication tolerability in the older patient. Next, the speaker relates how the high prevalence of chronic diseases affect the HIV positive patient’s prognosis. HIV positive elderly patients can suffer not just from frailty, but from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer. Dementia can also affect an elderly HIV paitent’s overall wellness and compliance with antiviral therapy. Dr. Wills also covers the assessment of bone density in elderly HIV positive patients. Lastly, Dr. Wills discusses HIV positive patient life expectancy in the modern age of antiretroviral therapy. The lecture is updated for 2024.

Getting to the HAART of HIV Drug Interactions

By Sung Soo Kim, Pharm.D

October 21st, 2024

Dr. Sung Soo Kim, ID clinical pharmacist, presents a talk on the spectrum of HIV therapy and ART (Antiretroviral Therapy)-related adverse drug interactions. Dr. Kim begins by describing the mechanisms by which HIV therapy-related adverse drug interactions occur. Next, he discusses the various classes of antiretrovirals and their specific drug interactions, including integrate inhibitors, NNRTIs, NRTIS, and Protease Inhibitors. Dr. Kim closes by discussing the consequences of unmanaged drug-drug interactions in patients on ARTs as well as the available drug-drug interaction resources available to the clinician.

ID Management of Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplants

By Olga Klinkova and Aliyah Baluch

October 7th, 2024

Dr. Olga Klinkova covers essential information regarding the management of infectious complications of hematologic malignancies. Topics covered include the initial evaluation of patients, neutropenic fever, neutropenic enterocolitis, and antimicrobial prophylaxis. Next, Dr. Baluch discusses ID management of stem cell transplants, CAR-T therapy, and when it is necessary to administer antimicrobial prophylaxis in these patients. The lecture is updated as of 2024.

What to Do With a Positive Blood Culture in 2024

By Richard L. Oehler, MD

October 1st, 2024

Dr. Richard Oehler, Professor of Medicine at the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, presents a review of bacteremia. Dr. Oehler begins by reviewing the epidemiology, personal and institutional costs of bacteremia. He then discusses blood culture collection and how false positive blood cultures occur. With the recent blood culture bottle shortage of 2024, he emphasizes the new concept of “blood culture stewardship”–when it is most appropriate to order a blood culture versus when it may be unnecessary. Next, Dr. Oehler reviews automated blood culture systems and other related identification technology, with a focus on new methods of blood culture isolate identification such as multiplex PCR and Maldi-TOF. The speaker then contrasts gram positive and gram negative bacteremia in general and by organism. The management of a positive blood culture with regard to treatment and source control is discussed. Lastly, ways to reduce the incidence of bacteremia are shared.

HIV-Associated Opportunistic Infections

By Jacqueline Sherbuk, MD

August 26th, 2024

Dr. Jackie Sherbuk, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the USF Morsani College of Medicine, presents this case-based review of the opportunistic infectious syndromes associated with HIV-AIDS. The speaker covers PJP prophylaxis and treatment, HIV pulmonary disease, and cryptococcal meningitis. Dr. Sherbuk also discusses IRIS (Immune Response Inflammatory Syndrome) and its effect on the AIDS patient when antiretrovirals are started. Lastly, Dr. Sherbuk covers HIV esophageal disorders, Histoplasmosis, Coccidioidomycosis, and Mycobacterium avian-complex-related syndromes.

Antiretroviral Therapy In Clinical Practice: A Case-based Approach

By Jacqueline Sherbuk, MD

August 9th, 2024

Dr. Jackie Sherbuk, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Morsani College of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases, presents this case-based review of the use of antiretroviral therapy in HIV/AIDS patients. Dr. Sherbuk begins by reviewing and available antireturovial options, including those that are considered first line. She also covers the use of antiretrovirals in special groups, including expectant mothers, elite controllers, treatment experienced patients, HBV/HIV connected patients, and patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Lastly, Dr. Sherbuk discusses the nuances of using co-formulated combinations of antiretrovirals and mentions the newer long-acting injectable preparations.

Intro to HIV in the Human Host

By Jamie Morano, MD

August 8th, 2024

Dr. Jamie Morano, Infectious Diseases and HIV Specialist with the University of South Florida College of medicine, presents an overview of the diagnosis and management of HIV infection. Part of USF ID’s Basics of HIV Management Review Series.

The Essentials of Antibiotic Dosing

Pharmacotherapy specialist Kristin Zeitler, PharmD, from Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, FL, presents this talk on the basics of antimicrobial therapy management for hospital patients. Dr. Zeitler begins by emphasizing the important of the ID clinical pharmacist. She then compares and contrasts Pharmacokinetics (PK) , the way drugs move through the body, with Pharmacodynamics (PD), the relationship between serum drug concentration and the therapeutic/toxic effects of the drug. PK/PD effects of antimicrobials are then further explored. Dr. Zeitler goes on to discuss Vancomycin dosing strategies, the effects of serum albumin on serum antimicrobial drug levels, drug penetration into the site of interest, drug dosing strategies for patients with renal insufficiency, and the effects of obesity and critical illness on antimicrobial dosing strategies.