Bloodstream infections are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in hospitalized patients. Critical to improving time to effective antimicrobial therapy and clinical outcomes is the rapid identification of the causative pathogens. There are several molecular methods capable of rapidly identify microorganisms and associated resistance genes from positive blood cultures or directly from blood. Though many studies have shown the positive impact of molecular rapid diagnostic tests on patient outcomes, the greatest impact to patient care occurs when such a test is coupled with antimicrobial stewardship intervention.
This webinar will address the use of molecular rapid diagnostic tests for blood culture identification and the role of antimicrobial stewardship in the effective implementation and optimization of molecular rapid diagnostic tests in patients with bloodstream infections.
Speaker
Eric Wenzler, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIVP Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy Clinical Pharmacist, Infectious Diseases University of Illinois at Chicago
Eric Wenzler, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIVP is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Illinois, Chicago College of Pharmacy. He recently completed a three-year Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy Fellowship at the University of Illinois in June 2017. He graduated from Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy in 2012 and completed his Postgraduate Year 1 training in 2013 and Postgraduate Year 2 in Infectious Diseases in 2014 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Dr. Wenzler’s research is centered around the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials in both the in vitro and clinical arenas as well as outcomes-based research related to infectious diseases. His laboratory research focuses on discovering optimal antimicrobial treatment regimens against multidrug-resistant bacteria, including evaluating synergistic antimicrobial combinations targeted at emerging super resistant Gram-negative pathogens such as those harboring metallo-beta-lactamase and class D serine beta-lactamase enzymes. He is also interested in the activity of antimicrobials in the genitourinary tract and optimizing the use of inhaled antibiotics for the treatment of pneumonia. His primary clinical research emphasis is investigating antimicrobial pharmacokinetics after novel dosing regimens in healthy volunteers and in special patient populations including critically ill patients and those receiving forms of hemodialysis. His outcomes research attempts to translate and apply the in vitro and clinical research findings to patients afflicted with infectious diseases syndromes, specifically exploring the impact of bacterial genotypic-phenotypic relationships on the clinical outcomes of patients infected with resistant pathogens.
Message PresenterWho Should Attend?
This webinar will appeal to individuals with the following or related job titles:
- Microbiologists
- Laboratory Directors
- Clinical Laboratory Scientists
- Infectious Disease Physicians and Pharmacists
- Antimicrobial Stewards
What You Will Learn
Join this webinar to learn more about:
- The ePlex blood culture identification (BCID) panels and the importance of inclusivity in detecting a broad range of clinically relevant pathogens
- How rapid identification of pathogens in blood cultures can improve antimicrobial stewardship interventions
- How genotypic resistance can provide valuable information to guide therapeutic decisions
- How these benefits can help justify the implementation of rapid diagnostic tools for blood culture identification
Xtalks Partner
GenMark Diagnostics
GenMark Diagnostics is a leading provider of multiplex molecular diagnostic solutions designed to enhance patient care, improve key quality metrics, and reduce the total cost-of-care. GenMark’s ePlex®: The True Sample-to-Answer Solution™ is designed to optimize laboratory efficiency and address a broad range of infectious disease testing needs, including respiratory, bloodstream, and gastrointestinal infections.
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