OVERVIEW 
This free activity, entitled "Reducing the Burden of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI): Spotlight on Populations at Risk," consists of a program overview, 3 presentations, panel Q&A, a learning assessment, and an evaluation form. The content of this virtual lecture is derived from a symposium presented on May 8, 2011, in Chicago, Illinois.

MEDIA: Virtual Lecture or Podcast
INTERNET RELEASE DATE: June 15, 2011
(Continuing education credit is no longer available for this activity.)

Estimated time to complete this activity: 2 hours

TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians and registered nurses involved in the care of patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).

STATEMENT OF NEED
Significant changes have occurred in the epidemiology and treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).1 Increasing frequency of disease and hypervirulent C. difficile strains have resulted in more severe disease and therapeutic failures with traditional treatments.2 Furthermore, understanding the association between CDI recurrence and specific therapeutic strategies is likely to reduce the number of episodes of CDI and improve management of recurrent disease.3

Importantly, innovative therapies are emerging for the treatment of CDI. A high index of suspicion should be maintained even in the absence of traditional risk factors and, as always, infection control measures remain paramount in limiting the spread of disease. In order to improve patient outcomes in CDI, healthcare professionals must be aware of the changing epidemiology, risk factors, emerging novel treatment strategies, and methods of prevention.

¹ Cohen SH, et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2010;31(5):431-455.
² Venuto C, et al. Pharmacotherapy. 2010;30(12):1266-1278.
³ Gerding DN, et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1995;16:459-477.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Review the pathophysiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) as it relates to clinical disease
• Outline factors which contribute to the economic burden of CDI
• Identify subpopulations at increased risk of developing CDI
• Discuss the relationship between CDI and inflammatory bowel disease and implications for clinical practice
• Implement therapeutic strategies for improved patient outcomes

METHOD OF PARTICIPATION
There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period June 15, 2011, through June 15, 2012, participants must 1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures; 2) study the educational activity; 3) complete the Learning Assessment by recording the best answer to each question in the "Learning Assessment Answers" box on the Evaluation form; 4) complete the Evaluation form; and 5) mail or fax the Evaluation form with the Learning Assessment answers to Postgraduate Institute for Medicine. You may also complete the Learning Assessment online at www.cmeuniversity.com. Click on “Find Post-Test/Evaluation by Course” on the navigation menu, and search by Project ID 8145.

Participants must receive a score of at least 70% on the Learning Assessment and must complete and submit the Evaluation form to successfully complete this activity. Participants who successfully complete the Learning Assessment and Evaluation form via www.cmeuniversity.com will have a statement of credit made available immediately. Participants who successfully complete this activity and submit the Learning Assessment and Evaluation form via fax or mail will be issued a statement of credit via US mail in 4 to 6 weeks.

PHYSICIAN CONTINUING EDUCATION
ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and RMEI, LLC. The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CREDIT DESIGNATION
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

NURSING CONTINUING EDUCATION
CREDIT DESIGNATION
This educational activity for 1.9 contact hours is provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM).

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and will be mailed to you within 4 weeks.

NURSING EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE
After completing this activity, the participant should be able to:
• Provide appropriate care and counsel for patients and their families

FACULTY

Jorge P. Parada, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA
Professor of Medicine
Medical Director, Infection Control Program
Director, MRSA Clinic
Research Associate, Infectious Diseases and
   Immunology Institute
Division of Infectious Diseases, Fahey Center
Loyola University Medical Center
Stritch School of Medicine
Maywood, Illinois
Senior Research Associate
Center of Management of Complex Chronic Care
Hines VA Hospital
Hines, Illinois

David G. Binion, MD
Co-Director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center
Director, Translational Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research
Visiting Professor of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ciarán P. Kelly, MD
Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Chief, Herrman L. Blumgart Internal Medicine Firm
Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship Training
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts

DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) assesses conflict of interest with its instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of continuing education (CE) activities. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies utilized in this activity, and patient care recommendations. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high-quality CE activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

• Jorge P. Parada, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA, has affiliations with Clarity PSO and Merck (Consultant); Pfizer (Speakers’ Bureau); and Roche and Astellas (Investigator).
• David G. Binion, MD, has affiliations with Optimer Pharmaceuticals, UCB Pharma, and Takeda (Consultant).
• Ciarán P. Kelly, MD, has affiliations with Merck and Optimer (Consulting, Ad Board, Research); Actelion Inc, Sanofi-Pasteur, and CSL Behring (Consulting and Research), and ViroPharma Inc (Consulting and Ad Board).

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

RMEI, LLC

• Sherri Kramer, MD, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Nora Duffy has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine

• Jan Hixon, RN, BSN, MA, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Trace Hutchison, PharmD, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Julia Kimball, RN, BSN, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Samantha Mattiucci, PharmD, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Jan Schultz, RN, MSN, CCMEP, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Patricia Staples, MSN, NP-C, CCRN, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.

DISCLOSURE OF UNLABELED USE
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM), RMEI, LLC, and Optimer do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of PIM, RMEI, or Optimer. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

DISCLAIMER
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

FEE INFORMATION
There is no fee for this educational activity.

QUESTIONS & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
For questions regarding the content of this activity, contact the accredited provider for this continuing education activity: jengelhardt@pimed.com. For technical assistance, contact jungsen@rmcom.net.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Hardware/Software requirements include:
• Windows XP, 2000, Vista, Windows 7   
  - Internet Explorer 6.0+
• Macintosh 9.2, OS X 10.1+
  - Safari 4+
• Additional Requirements
  - Macromedia Flash Player 10
  - Internal/external speakers
  - Broadband connection (DSL/cable) recommended

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Additional educational activities offered by RMEI, LLC can be found at www.RMEI.com or by calling toll-free to 866-770-RMEI.

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