Day 1, April 10, 2024

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 10:00 - 10:25 am ET

Note: This session will be broadcast as a live Zoom webinar, along with the keynote. Please stay on the live Zoom after opening remarks for the keynote session.

This year’s Sepsis Alliance AMR Conference will open with a patient story from Ella Balasa. Ella is a passionate patient advocate, AMR survivor, and lives with cystic fibrosis. She has experienced numerous hospitalizations and healthcare encounters throughout her life. During these opening remarks, learners will hear Ella’s journey battling antibiotic-resistant infections firsthand and be empowered to better advocate for and amplify the patient’s voice in their own practice. 

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner should be able to:

• List key factors in advocating for and raising the patient’s voice

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.

Ella Balasa, Patient Advocate and AMR Survivor,

Steven Q. Simpson, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Kansas

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 10:30 - 11:05 am ET

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than half of all human infections can be spread by animals. One Health has become an increasingly important approach for addressing several issues including endemic zoonotic diseases, environmental contamination, climate change, food safety, and the global threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) collaboratively across sectors and disciplines.

During this timely keynote presentation, subject matter experts from both the animal and human health fields of medicine will share unique perspectives and experiences about the growing threat of AMR and explore how the One Health approach can, and is, providing a framework to control public health threats. How diseases are spread amongst plants, animals, humans, and the environment will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner should be able to:

• Compare the One Health AMR approach perspectives and experiences through the differing lenses of animal and human health;
• Recognize the importance of the One Health approach in reducing antimicrobial resistant infections and in improving human and animal health.

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.

Paul J. Plummer, DVM, PhD, DACIVIM(LAIM) DECSRHM, Executive Director, National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education (NIAMRRE)

Jason G. Newland, MD, MEd, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 11:10 - 11:45 am ET

One Health represents a global initiative aimed at fostering cross-disciplinary partnerships and communication across all areas of healthcare, encompassing humans, animals, and the environment. This collaborative approach seeks to propel biomedical breakthroughs, improve the effectiveness of public health measures, and elevate our medical education and clinical practices. In this session, the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health will be explored and its effectiveness through the Minnesota One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Collaborative. Defining One Health and explaining why antibiotic resistance transcends disciplinary boundaries, impacting not only human health but also that of animals and ecosystems. The principles and strategies of antibiotic stewardship through a One Health lens, highlighting the interconnectedness of health across various sectors will be explored, as well as the pivotal roles and responsibilities of multidisciplinary teams involved in antibiotic stewardship across diverse settings.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner should be able to:

• Define One Health and describe why antibiotic resistance is a One Health issue;
• Describe antibiotic stewardship principles and implementation strategies through a One Health perspective;
• Identify the roles and responsibilities of the multidisciplinary team involved in antibiotic stewardship within multiple settings.

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.

Kristen Clark, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, CCRT, Director, Minnesota One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Collaborative, Minnesota Department of Health

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 11:50 am - 12:20 pm ET

Beyond Existing Antibiotics: Finding a Solution to AMR and Sepsis will be an exploration into the forefront of medical innovation. In this sponsored session, Recce Pharmaceuticals unveils their portfolio approach to tackling the growing threats of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and sepsis, two critical challenges in modern healthcare. Through innovative synthetic anti-infectives, Recce's breakthrough clinical-stage technology aims to go beyond conventional antibiotics, offering a novel, broad-spectrum solution to combatting resistant strains of bacteria and addressing the urgent need for effective sepsis treatments.

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.

James Graham, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Recce Pharmaceuticals

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 12:20 - 12:30 ET

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 12:30 - 1:00 pm ET

In this insightful session, the presenters will provide attendees with a formal examination of the pressing issue of superbugs, framed within a deeply personal narrative. The intricate world of infectious diseases, focusing on the notorious ESKAPE pathogens and their alarming implications will be explored, in addition to the nuances of Acinetobacter baummanii, a highly virulent bacterial pathogen.

The foundational principles of phage therapy, a promising frontier in the battle against sepsis caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, will be discussed, empowering participants to grasp the intricacies of superbugs and their potential therapeutic interventions.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner should be able to:

• Describe the ESKAPE pathogens;
• Identify why Acinetobacter baumannii is a particularly virulent bacterial pathogen;
• List the basic principles behind phage therapy for combatting sepsis.

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.

Steffanie Strathdee, PhD, Associate Dean of Global Health Sciences, UCSD Department of Medicine

Thomas Patterson, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 1:05 - 1:45 ET

In this session, vital strategies to optimize antibiotic use post-hospitalization will be explored. Antibiotic stewardship is imperative in healthcare, and this session will provide critical principles guiding this practice. The complexities surrounding antibiotic overuse at discharge will be discussed, providing a comprehensive summary of existing knowledge in this area. Understanding these nuances is crucial in identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing effective discharge antibiotic stewardship interventions.

By the end of this presentation, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of antibiotic stewardship principles, be equipped to summarize the landscape of antibiotic overuse at discharge, and have the ability to identify key strategies for enhancing antibiotic use post-hospitalization.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner should be able to:

• Review principles of antibiotic stewardship;
• Summarize what is known about antibiotic overuse at discharge;
• Identify opportunities to improve antibiotic use at discharge and key discharge antibiotic stewardship interventions.

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.

Emily Sydnor Spivak, MD, MHS, FIDSA, FSHEA, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Utah School of Medicine

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 1:45 - 2:15 pm ET

This sponsored session explores the definition of sepsis, global statistics, and the use of sepsis bundles in care. The critical overlap between sepsis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will be highlighted, along with the vital role of diagnostics in guiding treatment decisions and combating AMR.

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.

Amanda L. Suchanek, Ph.D., Medical Advisor, US Medical Affairs, bioMérieux

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 2:15 - 2:25 pm ET

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 2:25 - 3:00 pm ET

While antibiotic resistant bacteria have existed for millions of years and pose an increasing global health threat to all populations, it’s only recently that there has been increased recognition of drug-resistant infection trends in infants and children. During this session, the presenter will give an overview of the current landscape of AMR infections in pediatric populations, cover the common multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) leading to infections, and discuss how to manage them.  

Learning Objectives: 

At the end of this session, the learner should be able to:

• Describe the landscape of antimicrobial-resistant infections in the pediatric population; 
  
• Review common antimicrobial-resistant organisms leading to infections in the pediatric population; 
• Explain the management of antimicrobial-resistant infections in the pediatric population. 

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.

Rachel Medernach, MD, MSCI, Assistant Professor, Rush University Medical Center

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 3:05 - 3:45 pm ET

CDC’s Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship (AS) offer providers and facilities a set of key principles to guide efforts to improve antibiotic use and, therefore, advance patient safety and improve outcomes. These have catalyzed the development of AS programs and driven national improvements in antibiotic prescribing and outcomes. Inspired by this success, CDC recently released the Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements to optimize patient care and help clinicians, hospitals, and health systems in efforts to improve management and outcomes of sepsis. These core elements outline structural and procedural components that are associated with the multidisciplinary expertise required to support the care of patients with sepsis. In this session, attendees will learn about the hospital AS and sepsis program core elements; explore the nurse’s role, responsibility, and scope of practice in AS and sepsis management; and identify nursing strategies to optimize antibiotic use. 

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner should be able to:

• Describe CDC Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs and CDC Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements;
• Identify nurse’s role, responsibility and scope of practice in hospital antibiotic stewardship and sepsis management;
• Identify strategies for nurses to engage in optimization of hospital antibiotic use. 

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.

Mary Lou Manning, PhD, CRNP, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, FAAN, Professor, Thomas Jefferson University

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 3:45- 4:25 pm ET

Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing commonly occurs in the outpatient setting. Antimicrobial stewardship programs are recommended for use in the hospital, but less is known about whether and how they will work in the ambulatory setting. Pressure for antibiotics is perceived as a major barrier to the more judicious use of antibiotics. To improve the effectiveness and sustainability of outpatient antimicrobial stewardship, it is critical to engage clinicians in recognizing that their behavior contributes to antibiotic overuse and address the pressure to prescribe antibiotics. This session aims to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of their role in preventing antimicrobial resistance, acquiring practical knowledge on how individual actions contribute to this global challenge.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner should be able to:

• Restate the importance of antimicrobial stewardship both in the hospital and community setting;
• Describe how they can help prevent antimicrobial resistance.

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.

Alyssa R. Letourneau, MD, MPH, FIDSA, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Description: 

Date/Time: April 10, 2024 | 4:25 - 4:30 pm ET

Target Audience: 

Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.