Description:
Episode 4 of The Sepsis Spectrum: Microbial Mysteries Podcast.
Hospital-onset sepsis presents a complex and urgent challenge at the intersection of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and clinical decision-making. Nicole welcomes Dr. Jennifer Gienstra and Dr. Emi Minejima to examine how HAIs contribute to both AMR and the development of sepsis within hospital settings—and why these cases often carry higher risks and worse outcomes. Together they'll explore key insights from recent literature, including the need for clearer definitions, refined metrics, and improved alignment with antimicrobial stewardship efforts. They will also dive into how diagnostic uncertainty, delayed recognition, and treatment hesitations can turn manageable infections into life-threatening events.
Learning Objective:
At the end of the session, the learner should be able to:
- Describe the epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and how they contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the development of hospital-onset sepsis (HOS)
- Analyze the key findings from the June 2024 CHEST publication on HOS and it’s relevance to infection control and antimicrobial stewardship strategies;
- Evaluate the clinical implications of diagnostic and treatment delays, such as delayed rapid response activation or antibiotic administration in the progression of HAIs and HOS
- Describe how to identify risk factors, interpret clinical data, and propose evidence-based interventions including antimicrobial stewardship for a clinical scenario involving HAIs, multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and HOS.
- List best practices to prevent, identify, and manage HAIs, MDROS, and HOS across different roles and while leveraging Antimicrobial Stewardship principles within the healthcare continuum.
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.
Guests:
Jennifer Gienstra, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Sciences & Critical Care Medicine
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
Jennifer Ginestra, MD, MS received her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2015, and completed her internal medicine residency training and pulmonary and critical care fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. During her time at Penn she obtained a Masters in health policy and patient outcomes research, and was a fellow in the Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Safety. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine. She practices as an intensivist in the medical ICU at the University of Colorado Hospital, and is also health services researcher with funding from the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute. Her research aims to identify ways to improve care delivery and outcomes for patients who develop sepsis and respiratory failure in the hospital.
Emi Minejima, PharmD
Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy
Emi Minejima, PharmD, received her degree from University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy in 2005 and completed both her residency training in pharmacy practice and infectious diseases pharmacotherapy at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Ca. After residency, she joined the faculty at the USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences where she is currently an Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy. Her clinical practice is based at Los Angeles General Medical Center where she helps run the antimicrobial stewardship program and is the director for PGY2 infectious diseases pharmacy residency program. Her research interests include S. aureus infections and optimizing the use of antibiotics to improve care for the medically underserved population.
CE Information:
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 0.6 contact hours.
Other healthcare professionals will receive 0.5 participation contact hours for this episode.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.