Investigating Racial Disparities Among Patients with Antimicrobial-Resistant Infections (CE Session)
Description:
Date/Time: April 11, 2024 | 11:05 - 11:25 am ET
Among the limited studies available, it has been found that individuals from Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged backgrounds face an elevated susceptibility to contracting community-acquired antibiotic-resistant organisms like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. This presentation sheds light on the critical issue of racial disparities within antimicrobial-resistant infections, focusing on Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (SAB) and infections caused by Carbapenem-resistant (CR) organisms.
By identifying risk factors and variances in clinical characteristics and outcomes, attendees will gain insight into the nuanced challenges faced by different racial groups in combating antimicrobial-resistant infections. Actionable recommendations aimed at mitigating these inequities and fostering more equitable healthcare outcomes among patients with antimicrobial-resistant infections will be discussed, promoting a deeper understanding of this pressing issue and exploring strategies for driving positive change in patient care.
The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, the learner should be able to:
- Evaluate potential differences in clinical characteristics, microbiology, and outcomes among Black and white patients diagnosed with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (SAB);
- Identify risk factors or differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes among Black and white patients with infections caused by Carbapenem-resistant (CR) organisms;
- Identify recommendations to mitigate inequities among patients with Antimicrobial-Resistant Infections.
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.
Felicia Ruffin, PhD, MSN, BSN, BA
Clinical Research Program Leader
Duke University Medical Center
Felicia Ruffin, PhD, MSN, BSN, BA, has over three decades of patient care, education, and research experience. She works as a Clinical Research Program Leader at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Ruffin graduated from North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (1985) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (1995). She also holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Duke University School of Nursing (2006) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro (2021). Dr. Ruffin has worked in several departments at Duke including child psychiatry, cardiology, general medicine, dermatology, and infectious diseases. For over a decade and a half, her research has focused on understanding the host and pathogen factors that determine the outcomes of bacterial infections. The dissertation for her Ph.D. in Nursing explored factors associated with patient pre-hospital delays in seeking care for symptoms of bacteremia and sepsis, which identified barriers and facilitators to help-seeking (PMID: 36480356 and PMID: 37632254). Most recently she was awarded an EVERYONE Diversity Seed grant from the Antimicrobial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) to evaluate disparities among patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. In her free time, Dr. Ruffin enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and writing.