C. difficile Infection: Improving Provider-Patient Communication to Hasten Diagnosis and Treatment

C. difficile Infection (CDI): Improving Provider-Patient Communication to Hasten Diagnosis and Treatment is organized by Center for Independent Healthcare Education, LLC and Vemco MedEd, LLC.

Release Date: Thursday, October 31, 2019
Expiration Date: Saturday, October 31, 2020

Accreditation: 
Physicians
Center designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Educational Overview:
C. difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and mortality in the US. CDI is also becoming a growing concern in the community and long-term care facilities as the incidence of these infections has increased even among individuals with no exposure to acute care settings. With the increasing prevalence of CDI in the community, individuals with CDI symptoms are presenting to their primary care providers (PCPs) more frequently. A timely diagnosis of CDI is critical not only in improving patient outcomes but also in preventing the spread of infection. PCPs may not be fully knowledgeable in recognizing the signs and symptoms of CDI along with differentiating CDI from other conditions with similar presentations (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, or other infectious diarrheal condition). PCPs must be equipped to communicate effectively with patients to fully understand their symptoms, disease history, and risk factors to hasten a proper diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapeutic options. PCPs should be aware of appropriate laboratory tests and how to interpret them to make a differential diagnosis and recognize when referral to a specialist or acute care setting is necessary.

This program empowers physicians and other healthcare professionals at the front-line of patient care with the knowledge and tools needed to detect and diagnose patients presenting with symptoms of C. difficile infection. Participants will build awareness of how to make an accurate and timely diagnosis of CDI through improved communication and evaluation. This activity also reviews the latest guideline recommendations in the management of CDI.

Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of the educational activity, the learner should be able to:
• Utilize communication and evaluation techniques to aid in the early detection of C. difficile infection
• Identify and interpret diagnostic tests to help differentiate C. difficile infection from other gastrointestinal disorders
• Evaluate current therapeutic options available for the management of C. difficile infection