Practice Gap and Educational Need
Pneumococcal disease remains a leading cause of infectious disease in adults. Serious manifestations, such as pneumonia and bacteremia, are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and frequent hospitalization places a heavy financial burden on the healthcare system. Additionally, widespread resistance to commonly-used antimicrobials challenges clinicians in selecting appropriate therapy.

Prevention and management tactics can help address the challenge associated with pneumococcal disease. Early appropriate antimicrobial therapy is essential for optimal clinical outcomes. Furthermore, pneumococcal vaccination protects at-risk adults. However, despite recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a significant percentage of at-risk adults is not vaccinated and remains vulnerable to pneumococcal infections. Healthcare professionals must recognize the impact of pneumococcal disease and advance their efforts in preventing and managing pneumococcal infections. As part of a multidisciplinary team, clinical pharmacists can take a leading role.

"Adult Pneumococcal Disease: A Neglected Crisis", an educational initiative comprising a CME/CPE symposium and its simulcast, webcast on-demand, and now this monograph, aims to assist healthcare professionals in their efforts to prevent pneumococcal disease.

Target Audience
This activity was planned to meet the needs of pharmacists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals who are interested in learning more about prevention and management of pneumococcal disease.

Learning Objectives
Healthcare professionals participating in this educational activity will be able at its conclusion to:

• Recognize the healthcare burden of pneumococcal disease in adults
• Utilize guidelines to identify adults who would benefit from pneumococcal vaccination
• Explain the role of pharmacists in preventing pneumococcal disease in adults

Educational Format
This CME/CPE monograph provides evidence-based answers to frequently asked questions pertaining to pneumococcal disease management and prevention. As a user-friendly reference guide, it aims to promote partnership among physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to maximize the use of adult pneumococcal vaccines for all at-risk adults.

Guest Editors
Thomas M. File, Jr., MD, MSc, MACP, FIDSA, FCCP (view bio)
Professor of Internal Medicine
Master Teacher
Head, Infectious Disease Section
Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine
Rootstown, Ohio
Chief, Infectious Disease Service
Director, HIV Research
Summa Health System
Akron, Ohio

David S. Burgess, PharmD, FCCP (view bio)
Clinical Professor of Pharmacy and Medicine
Center for Advancement of Research and Education in Infectious Disease
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas

Accreditation

Physicians
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases 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.

Pharmacists
University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. UIC has assigned 2.0 contact hours (0.2 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credits for participating in this activity. Participants must complete the entire activity and submit the Post Test and Evaluation Form in order to receive continuing pharmacy education credit.

ACPE Universal Activity Number: 016-999-11-033-H01-P

Type of Activity: Knowledge-based

Method of Participation and Instruction for Credit

• Review the entire CME/CPE information including target audience, learning objectives, and disclosures.
• Review the entire Monograph.
• Complete the Post Test and Evaluation Form. Please note that to receive credit you must have a score of at least 80%.
• Mail the completed Post Test and Evaluation Form to Vemco MedEd, 245 US Highway 22, Suite 304, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 or fax to (908) 235-4222.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Vemco MedEd require faculty, planners, and others who are in a position to control the content of continuing education activities to disclose to the audience any real or apparent conflict of interest related to the activity. All identified conflicts of interest are reviewed and resolved to ensure fair balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all activities. The faculty is further required to disclose discussion of off-label uses in their presentations.

Disclosures: Guest Editors
Thomas M. File, Jr., MD has received research funding from Cempra, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, Tibotec. He serves as a consultant for Bayer, Cempra, Cerexa/Forest, Merck, Nabriva, Pfizer, Rib-X, Tetraphase.

David S. Burgess, PharmD has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure: Planning Committee
Len Novick (NFID) owns stock, stock options or bonds from Cubist, Novavax, Pfizer, and ViroPharma.

Susan J. Rehm, MD (NFID) serves as an advisor or consultant for Pfizer and Cubist. She serves as a speaker or member of a speakers’ bureau for Cubist and Roche and has received research/grant support from Cubist.

All other employees of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Vemco MedEd have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure of Off-label Use
During this activity, the following off-label use of a vaccine is discussed: 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for prevention of pneumococcal disease in adults.

Cosponsorship
This activity is cosponsored by
     

Educational Partner

Commercial Support
This activity is supported by an unrestricted educational grant to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases from Pfizer, Inc.

Fee
There is no fee to participate in this activity.

Hardware/Software Requirements
Web Browser
Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Google Chrome
Note: Please disable any "pop-up blocker" features.

Software/Hardware
Adobe® Flash® Player version 10 or above to view the presentations (If you do not have Adobe® Flash® Player, you can download it for free from get.adobe.com/flashplayer)
Adobe Acrobat Reader version 7 or above to view PDF files (If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free from get.adobe.com/reader)

Connection Speed
Cable, DSL, or better of at least 300 kbps

System Check
Please e-mail any questions or concerns to info@vemcomeded.com.

Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not reflect the views of National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Vemco MedEd. This educational activity may discuss off-label and/or investigational uses and dosages for therapeutic products/procedures that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Vemco MedEd do not recommend the use of any product/procedure outside of the labeled indications. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product/procedure discussed. Clinicians should verify all information and data before treating patients or employing any therapies described in this continuing education activity. Please refer to the prescribing information for each product/procedure for approved indication, contraindications, and warnings.

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Contact Information
For questions regarding the accreditation of this activity, please contact NFID at (301) 656-0003 extension 12 or UIC at (866) 742-7623.