The Convergence of Microbiology and Pharmacy to Enhance Antibiotic Stewardship with Bloodstream Infections

TITLE

The Convergence of Microbiology and Pharmacy to Enhance Antibiotic Stewardship with Bloodstream Infections: The Need for Speed

OBJECTIVES

1. Provide overview of goals of antimicrobial stewardship specifically with regards to blood culture management

2. Describe current methods for identifying organisms (traditional and rapid diagnostic) as well as antimicrobial susceptibility testing modalities

3. Describe key clinical outcome studies related to blood culture rapid diagnostic testing including integration with antimicrobial stewardship programs

4. Identify best practices of collaboration between pharmacists, microbiology staff, and prescribers to maximize stewardship outcomes when managing bacteremias

SPEAKER

Christopher M. Bland, Pharm.D., FCCP, FIDSA, BCPS 

Clinical Associate Professor 

University of Georgia College of Pharmacy 

Savannah, GA

Christopher M. Bland is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Southeast Georgia campus in Savannah, Georgia. He received his Pharm.D. degree from the University of South Carolina in May 2000 and has been board certified in pharmacotherapy since 2003. Dr. Bland's primary practice is in infectious diseases and internal medicine at St. Joseph's/Candler Health System in Savannah. Dr. Bland has published in various journals, including Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Pharmacotherapy, and Clinical Infectious Diseases, and is a Fellow of both ACCP and IDSA. Dr. Bland is co-founder of the Southeastern Research Group Endeavor (SERGE-45) - a practice-based research network primarily in the Southeast with over 40 institutions and 50 pharmacists.

SPONSOR

bioMerieux

P.A.C.E.®

SWACM is approved as a Provider of Continuing Education Programs in Clinical Laboratory Sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program. Completion of this program will provide 1.0 contact hour of continuing education. SWACM programs are approved for California-licensed clinical laboratory scientists and personnel. The instructional level of this program is intermediate.