Infectious Diseases

The Clinician's Companion:
Changing the Treatment Paradigm to
Improve Fungal Infection Outcomes

Go to: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

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The Clinician's Companion
Changing the Treatment Paradigm to Improve Fungal Infection Outcomes

Part 1: Overview of Fungal Infection

also available:

Dear Colleague:

Invasive fungal infections are increasing in frequency in the United States, with accompanying increases in morbidity and mortality. In recent years, we have seen the introduction of new antifungal agents, and many others under development will reach the marketplace in the near future. These agents expand our treatment options, since each has a unique spectrum of activity and side effect profile. However, targeting the right therapy to an individual patient's disease requires rapid, accurate diagnostic testing, which is still lacking for most species. In this five-part newsletter series, The Clinician's Companion: Changing the Treatment Paradigm to Improve Fungal Infection Outcomes, some of the nation's leading experts in fungal infections take a close look at the diagnostic and treatment challenges we face today and offer their suggestions for how to handle these situations successfully.

In this first issue, we provide a brief overview of the major fungal pathogens and current recommendations for targeting therapy according to genus and species, as well as known patterns of susceptibility. The accompanying audio CD provides a discussion with the esteemed faculty on current thinking and controversies regarding use of antifungal prophylaxis, preemptive therapy, and empirical treatment.

The upcoming newsletters in this series will each focus on particular case studies of invasive fungal infections caused by one of the pathogens discussed here. Each accompanying audio CD provides further examination of the cases and related issues by the expert faculty. This series also includes a comprehensive monograph, which contains in-depth coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections. It will be available following the release of the final newsletter.

We are pleased to bring you this important and timely series with the latest information and practical applications. We hope you find it helpful in improving outcomes in your patients with invasive fungal infections.

Sincerely,

CO-CHAIRS
Thomas F. Patterson, MD Professor of Medicine Department of Medicine The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas
John R. Wingard, MD Professor of Medicine Department of Medicine University of Florida Gainesville, Florida
FACULTY
Elias J. Anaissie, MD Professor of Medicine Director, Division of Supportive Care Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, Arkansas
Neil Clancy, MD Assistant Professor Department of Medicine University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville, Florida
Jack D. Sobel, MD Professor of Medicine Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases Detroit Medical Center Wayne State University, School of Medicine Detroit, Michigan

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TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity is designed for infectious disease specialists, hematologists, oncologists, hospital pharmacists, and transplant surgeons who treat patients who are immunocompromised due to their primary clinical status and/or therapeutic regimen and are therefore susceptible to opportunistic fungal infections.

ACTIVITY GOAL

The goal of this educational activity is to provide an overview of the latest knowledge on epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of common and emerging fungal infections.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Selectively employ prophylaxis, preemptive, and empiric therapies in high-risk populations to prevent and manage fungal infections, while reducing unnecessary exposure to antifungal agents among those who are unlikely to benefit.
For patients with signs and symptoms of active fungal infection, use currently available technology and testing to establish an accurate diagnosis.
Given a confirmed diagnosis of fungal infection, select an antifungal treatment that is targeted to the specific genus and species to provide the best chance of cure.

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CME INFORMATION

Statement of Accreditation

Projects In Knowledge is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Projects In Knowledge designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity is planned and implemented as an independent CME activity in accordance with the ACCME Essential Areas and Policies.

CPE Information: Pharmacists

Projects In Knowledge is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the ACPE Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines. Each newsletter/audio CD is worth up to 2 contact hours (.2 CEUs), and the monograph is worth up to 3 contact hours (.3 CEUs). See individual newsletter/audio CD and monograph for activity provider numbers.

CME/CPE Instructions

Projects In Knowledge is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the ACPE Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines. The ACPE Universal Program Number assigned to this program, for 2 contact hours (0.2 CEUs), is 052-000-06-001-H01.

Contract for Mutual Responsibility in CME/CE
Projects In Knowledge has developed the contract to demonstrate our commitment to providing the highest quality professional education to clinicians, and to help clinicians set educational goals to challenge and enhance their learning experience.
For more information on the contract, click here.

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DISCLOSURE INFORMATION

The Disclosure Policy of Projects In Knowledge requires that presenters comply with the Standards for Commercial Support. All faculty are required to disclose any personal interest or relationship they or their spouse/partner have with the supporters of this activity or any commercial interest that is discussed in their presentation. Any discussions of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices will also be disclosed in the course materials.

For complete prescribing information on the products discussed during this CME/CE activity, please see your current Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR).

Elias J. Anaissie, MD, has received grant/research support from Astellas Pharma US, Inc, CuraGen Corporation, and Pfizer Inc; is a consultant for Astellas Pharma US, Inc, Gilead Sciences, Inc, Merck & Co, Inc, and Pfizer Inc; and is on the speakers bureau of Astellas Pharma US, Inc, Merck & Co, Inc, and Pfizer Inc.

Neil Clancy, MD, has received grant/research support from Pfizer Inc.

Thomas F. Patterson, MD, has received grant/research support from Astellas Pharma US, Inc, Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co, Inc, Pfizer Inc, and Schering-Plough Corporation; is a consultant for, and has received consulting fees from, Affinium Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharma US, Inc, Basilea Pharmaceuticals, Diversa, Eisai, Inc, Human Genome Sciences, Inc/CoGenesys, J. Uriach & Cia S.A., MediciNova, Merck & Co, Inc, Microbia, Nektar Therapeutics, Pfizer Inc, Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, and Schering-Plough Corporation; and is on the speakers bureau of Astellas Pharma US, Inc, Merck & Co, Inc, Pfizer Inc, and Schering-Plough Corporation.

Jack D. Sobel, MD, has received grant/research support from Astellas Pharma US, Inc, Merck & Co, Inc, NIH RCSI, Mtec, Pfizer Inc, and Presutti Laboratories; and is a consultant for Merck & Co, Inc, Pfizer Inc, Presutti Laboratories, and 3M Pharmaceuticals.

John R. Wingard, MD, has received grant/research support from Merck & Co, Inc and Pfizer Inc; is a consultant for, and has received honoraria from, Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co, Inc, Pfizer Inc, and Schering-Plough Corporation; is on the speakers bureau of Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co, Inc, and Pfizer Inc; has received consulting fees from Merck & Co, Inc and Pfizer Inc; and is an investigator for Ortho Biotech Products, LP and Schering-Plough Corporation.

Peer Reviewer has disclosed no significant relationships.

Projects In Knowledge's staff members have no significant relationships to disclose.

This Tx Reporter and audio CD will include a discussion of the investigational antifungal agent posaconazole, as well as other investigational strategies (eg, cytokines, hyperbaric oxygen, and iron chelation). They also include a discussion of the unlabeled uses of FDA-approved drugs including amphotericin B, caspofungin, fluconazole, flucytosine, itraconazole, liposomal forms of amphotericin B, miconazole, prednisone, terbinafine, voriconazole, and combination regimens.

Conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by the Executive Committee of Projects In Knowledge. All conflicts are resolved prior to the beginning of the activity by the Trust In Knowledge peer review process.

The opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect those of Projects In Knowledge.

This CME/CPE activity is provided by Projects In Knowledge solely as an educational service. Specific patient care decisions are the responsibility of the clinician caring for the patient.

This independent CME/CPE activity is supported by an educational grant from
Schering-Plough Corporation.

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The Clinician's Companion Changing the Treatment Paradigm to Improve Fungal Infection Outcomes

Part 1: Overview of Fungal Infection

The Clinician's Companion
Changing the Treatment Paradigm to Improve Fungal Infection Outcomes