Physicians commonly prescribe antibiotics for common upper respiratory infections and need a quick, user-friendly format to update their knowledge base, using current accepted clinical practice guidelines. Improving health care provider awareness regarding antimicrobial resistance and judicious antibiotic use has been identified as a top priority by members of the NJ CAUSE Antimicrobial Resistance Task Force. This on-line module has been designed to address these needs.

This activity is intended for physicians in primary care practice and others interested in evidence-based management of acute pharyngitis in children and adolescents.

By participating in this activity, participants should be able to:

• List the differences and commonalities between pediatric viral rhinosinusitis and acute bacterial sinusitis
• Describe criteria for the diagnosis of uncomplicated pediatric acute bacterial sinusitis.
• Describe criteria for when antibiotics are indicated in the management of acute sinusitis in children.
• List correct antibiotic choices, doses and durations for use when antibiotics are indicated in the management acute sinusitis in children.
• Identify appropriate and inappropriate scenarios for the prescription of antibiotics in cases of sinusitis.

Antibiotic-resistant infections have become a major concern for the community and health care providers. Once a problem limited to health care facilities, there is mounting evidence that antibiotic-resistant bacteria are causing increasing proportions of serious infections in community settings.

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) is taking an active role in identifying, preventing, and controlling antibiotic-resistant infections. The State of New Jersey’s “Strategic Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance” focuses on five critical elements to this process:

1. Surveillance
2. Education
3. Promotion of best laboratory practices
4. Promotion of best practices in infection control
5. Data development regarding economic consequences of antibiotic resistance

This strategic plan was developed by the New Jersey Careful Antibiotic Use Strategies and Education (NJ CAUSE), a task force led by NJDHSS and included expert representation from a variety of New Jersey public health and health care organizations. NJ CAUSE has identified physician education as an important modality for preventing and controlling antibiotic-resistant infections. In keeping with this expert input and New Jersey’s Strategic Plan, we have developed a user-friendly, on-line educational module aimed at promoting adherence to appropriate antibiotic prescribing guidelines for the treatment of upper respiratory infections among physicians.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of UMDNJ-Center for Continuing and Outreach Education and the State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

UMDNJ-Center for Continuing and Outreach Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. UMDNJ-Center for Continuing and Outreach Education designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ACNP and AAPA accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ from organizations accredited by ACCME.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Suzanne Miro, MPH, CHES
Senior Health Communication Specialist
State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Trenton, NJ

FACULTY

Anushua Sinha, MD MPH
Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health
UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ

Peter Wenger, MD
Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Community Health
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ

This activity was peer reviewed for relevance, accuracy of content, and balance of presentation by Barbara Montana, MD, MPH, FACP, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

This activity was pilot tested for time required for participation by:

David Cennimo, MD, UMDNJ- New Jersey Medical School
Lisa L. Dever, MD, UMDNJ- New Jersey Medical School

Participants should read this page and review the presentation in its entirety. After reviewing the presentation, sign in to ANGEL to complete the post- test, which must be passed with a grade of 70% or better. Upon submission of a course evaluation, you will have access to a printable CME credit letter. Estimated time to complete this activity as designed is 1 hour.

In accordance with the disclosure policies of UMDNJ and to conform with ACCME and FDA guidelines, individuals in a position to control the content of this education activity are required to disclose to the activity participants:

1. the existence of any relevant financial relationship with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients, with the exemption of non-profit or government organizations and non-health care related companies, within the past 12 months; and
2. the identification of a commercial product/device that is unlabeled for use or an investigational use of a product/device that is not yet approved.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Suzanne Miro, MPH, CHES has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

FACULTY

Anushua Sinha, MD, MPH has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: Grant/Research Support: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Peter Wenger, MD has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

FIELD TESTERS

David Cennimo, MD and Lisa L. Dever, MD have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

PEER REVIEWER

Barbara Montana, MD, MPH, FACP has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

UMDNJ-CCOE PLANNERS

Patrick Dwyer, Director, Continuing Medical Education; John McInerney, Director, Marketing and e-Learning; and Elizabeth Ward, Director, CME Compliance and Administration, have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

This activity does not contain information of commercial products/devices that are unlabeled for use or investigational uses of products not yet approved.

The views expressed in this activity are those of the faculty. It should not be inferred or assumed that they are expressing the views of any manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, UMDNJ-Center for Continuing and Outreach Education, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

It should be noted that the recommendations made herein with regard to the use of therapeutic agents, varying disease states, and assessments of risk, are based upon a combination of clinical trials, current guidelines, and the clinical practice experience of the participating presenters. The drug selection and dosage information presented in this activity are believed to be accurate. However, participants are urged to consult the full prescribing information on any agent(s) presented in this activity for recommended dosage, indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and adverse effects before prescribing any medication.

Copyright © 2012 UMDNJ - Center for Continuing and Outreach Education. All rights reserved, including translation into other languages. No part of these materials may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the UMDNJ - Center for Continuing and Outreach Education.

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