OVERVIEW 
This free activity, entitled "Clostridium difficile Infection: Emerging Therapies and Recurrence Prevention," 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 October 22, 2011, in Boston, Massachusetts.

MEDIA: Virtual Lecture or Podcast
INTERNET RELEASE DATE: December 20, 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, pharmacists, and nurses involved in the care of patients with Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI).

STATEMENT OF NEED
Rates of CDI incidence, hospitalizations, and deaths have been increasing in recent years, suggesting that current management of this condition may be suboptimal.1 Although much has been discovered regarding the role of gastrointestinal flora in the pathogenesis of CDI, the mechanisms of recurrent disease and poor outcomes remain elusive. Surveys of practice patterns suggest that healthcare professionals are unaware of or fail to utilize optimal methods for managing patients with CDI.2,3 Given the recent updated guidelines for CDI, combined with several new agents emerging for this disease, it is important that healthcare professionals be aware of the most current research and recommendations for the management of CDI.

¹ Zilberberg MD, et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008;14:929-931.
² Byker GL, et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2009;30:397-399.
³ Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) Pace of Progress poll. May 2010.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
After participating in this educational activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe the role of gastrointestinal flora in health and the mechanisms of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI)
• Identify patients at risk for recurrence and poor outcomes
• Summarize recent evolutions in CDI treatment options
• Use appropriate CDI diagnostic testing
• Choose appropriate infection control methods and therapies to improve patient outcomes

METHOD OF PARTICIPATION
There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period December 20, 2011 through December 20, 2012, participants must read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures and study the educational activity.

PIM supports Green CME by offering your Request for Credit online. If you wish to receive acknowledgment for completing this activity, please complete the post-test and evaluation on www.cmeuniversity.com. On the navigation menu, click on “Find Post-test/Evaluation by Course” and search by course ID 8232. Upon registering and successfully completing the post-test with a score of 70% or better and the activity evaluation, your certificate will be made available immediately. Processing credit requests online will reduce the amount of paper used by nearly 100,000 sheets per year.

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.

PHARMACIST CONTINUING EDUCATION
ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

CREDIT DESIGNATION
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this continuing education activity for 2.0 contact hours (0.2 CEUs) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. (Universal Activity Number – 0809-9999-11-138-H01-P)

If you participated in the live activity (Universal Activity Number - 0809-9999-11-081-L01-P), you are not eligible for this activity.

LIVE ACPE RELEASE DATE: October 22, 2011

MEDIUM: Internet

TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Knowledge

PHARMACY EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE
After completing this activity, the participant should be able to:
• Provide accurate and appropriate counsel as part of the treatment team

A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and will be mailed to you within 3 weeks.

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.

CALIFORNIA BOARD OF REGISTERED NURSING
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 13485 for 1.9 contact hours.

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

Dale Gerding, MD, FACP, FIDSA (Moderator)
Professor of Medicine
Loyola University Chicago
Stritch School of Medicine
Maywood, Illinois

Stephen M. Brecher, PhD
Director of Microbiology
VA Boston Healthcare System
West Roxbury, Massachusetts

Kathleen Mullane, DO, PharmD
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Stuart Johnson, MD, DTM&H
Professor of Medicine
Loyola University Medical Center
Stritch School of Medicine
Maywood, Illinois

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:

• Dale Gerding, MD, FACP, FIDSA, has affiliations with ViroPharma (Patent); ViroPharma, Merck, Pfizer, Optimer, Cubist, TehraDoc, Medicines Co., Astellas, and Actelion (Advisory Board); and Merck, Optimer, GOJO, Sanofi Pasteur, ViroPharma, Actelion, and Eurofins Medinet (Research).
• Stephen M. Brecher, PhD, has no affiliations with commercial interests to disclose.
• Kathleen Mullane, DO, PharmD, has affiliations with Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Cubist, Sanofi Pasteur SA, and ViroPharma Incorporated (Research); and Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, and Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Research and Consultant).
• Stuart Johnson, MD, DTM&H, has affiliations with Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc., ViroPharma Incorporated, Astellas Pharma US, Inc., Pfizer, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, and Bio-K+ (Consultant).

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 Hartley 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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