Comprehensive
Management of Patients With Complicated Intra-Abdominal
Infections
Complicated intra-abdominal infections
(cIAI) are a major surgical and medical challenge.
This educational supplement, which is composed
of 3 articles, describes several aspects of the
management of cIAI. The supplement discusses resuscitative
measures and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic
therapeutic tools that are recommended in current
guidelines. In addition, the unintended damage
that may occur during the treatment of cIAI is
highlighted.
Current
Challenges in the Treatment of Patients Hospitalized
for Community-Acquired Infections
Community-acquired infections that
require hospitalization, such as skin and skin
structure infections (SSSI), community-acquired
pneumonia (CAP), and complicated intra-abdominal
infections (cIAI), are associated with high morbidity
and mortality. Because the epidemiology and resistance
patterns of the causative pathogens vary over
time and between regions, physicians need updated
information on managing these infections. The
proper selection of antimicrobial therapy can
improve outcomes and reduce the emergence of resistant
bacterial strains. The first presentation in this
activity will describe recent changes in the bacterial
etiology of SSSI (including MRSA), the available
treatment options, and strategies to reduce antimicrobial
resistance. The next lecture will focus on individualizing
therapy for hospitalized CAP patients based on
various clinical and microbial characteristics,
and will outline the most recent treatment guidelines.
The last presentation will review the management
of cIAI according to current guidelines. It will
also include a discussion of newer therapeutic
options for cIAI.
EXPIRED CME/CE ACTIVITIES
The following
activities are no longer available for credit; however,
we believe the content to be important and hope
you will enjoy reviewing them.
A
Case-Based Approach to Parkinsons Disease:
Identifying, Diagnosing, and Initiating Treatment
The identification and treatment
of Parkinsons disease can be complicated.
This activity includes cases to illustrate proper
diagnostic criteria for Parkinsons disease
and its associated nonmotor symptoms. In addition,
a discussion of how initial treatment might affect
nonmotor symptoms and later stages of the disease
will be discussed.
Staying
Current in Community-Acquired Pneumonia
This symposium features a discussion
of the most recent IDSA/ATS guidelines on community-acquired
pneumonia (CAP) and covers the topic of trends
toward antimicrobial resistance in the United
States and Canada. In addition, recent data regarding
the efficacy of fluoroquinolone monotherapy relative
to combination antimicrobial therapy are presented.
The merits of using monotherapy in all CAP patients,
including those who are elderly or frail, are
considered.
Strangers
in the Night: Case-based Learnings on Nighttime
and Supraesophageal GERD
This activity reviews the impact
that nighttime GERD has on work productivity and
quality of life. It
provides a critical review of the evidence indicating
that nighttime reflux contributes to supraesophageal
symptoms. Finally, the relationship between
nighttime GERD and sleep are explored.
Medscape
This case-based activity discusses
the important considerations that must be made
when choosing therapy for Overactive Bladder (OAB).
Practitioners will be made aware of the important
components of OAB diagnosis and management. In
addition to nonpharmacologic strategies, the current
FDA-approved agents will be considered.
|