Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Specialty Review Course for Recertification, Workbook Chapters + RECERT EXAM Package (Cert # L249068)

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education with Commendation.

The American College of Clinical Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as providers of continuing pharmacy education.

These recertification activities are intended for board certified pharmacists seeking to update their knowledge and skills in infectious diseases pharmacy.

Board-certified pharmacists are eligible to receive up to 25.50 contact hours of recertification credit for completing this course. To earn recertification credit, learners must review the course content and successfully complete the online assessments by the deadline.   

ASHP provides an opportunity for remediation. Participants who are unsuccessful with the first assessment attempt may take a second assessment. The second assessment is included at no additional cost.

ASHP is approved by BPS as a provider for the recertification of BCIDP.

After participating in this CPE activity, learners should be able to: 

ACPE #: 0204-9999-24-917-H01-P

Antimicrobial Stewardship

• Outline components of an effective stewardship program.
• Select appropriate resources; relevant accreditation, legal, regulatory, and safety requirements; and quality metrics related to infectious diseases.
• Evaluate institutional treatment policies and pathways for compliance with antimicrobial stewardship guidelines, surveillance data, and best available evidence.
• Assess the effectiveness of infection prevention strategies.
• Identify metrics for evaluating the value of infectious diseases pharmacy services. 

Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

• Assess pharmacotherapies for upper respiratory tract infections.
• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient- and disease-specific information, antibiogram data, and best available evidence.
• Recommend modifications of patient-specific treatment plans based on efficacy and adverse effects.
• Identify recommended immunizations and potential adverse effects. 

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

• Assess pharmacotherapies for lower respiratory tract infections, including antimicrobial spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.
• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient‐ and disease-specific information, antibiogram data, and best available evidence.
• Interpret signs, symptoms, and laboratory and other relevant diagnostic test results.
• Recommend the most appropriate modifications of patient‐specific treatment plans based on efficacy, adverse effects, and follow‐up assessment.
• Interpret biomedical literature with regard to study design and methodology, significance of reported data and conclusions, limitations, and applicability of study results to patients with lower respiratory tract infections. 

ACPE Number: 0204-9999-24-918-H01-P

HIV Infection and AIDS

• Assess pharmacotherapies for HIV‐infection and AIDS, including opportunistic infections.
• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient‐ and disease-specific information, antibiogram data, and best available evidence.
• List recommended immunizations and screening guidelines for patients with HIV.
• Recommend modifications of patient‐specific treatment plans based on efficacy, drug interactions, immunologic or virologic response, and adverse effects.
• Interpret signs, symptoms, and laboratory and other relevant diagnostic test results related to HIV infection.
• Evaluate a plan to facilitate transitions of care. 

Infections of Reproductive Organs and Sexually Transmitted Diseases

• Assess pharmacotherapies for infections of reproductive organs and sexually transmitted diseases.
• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient‐ and disease-specific information, antibiogram data, and best available evidence.
• Identify recommended screening guidelines for sexually‐transmitted diseases.
• Recommend modifications of patient‐specific treatment plans based on efficacy, immunologic response, and adverse effects.
• Interpret signs, symptoms, and laboratory and other relevant diagnostic test results.
• Summarize key considerations in effective patient and caregiver education and counseling techniques. 

Opportunistic Infections in Immunocompromised Patients

• Assess the advantages and disadvantages of pharmacotherapies for opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients, including antimicrobial spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.
• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient‐ and disease-specific information and best available evidence.
• Interpret signs, symptoms, and laboratory and other relevant diagnostic test results.
• Recommend modifications of patient‐specific treatment plans based on efficacy, immunologic response, and adverse effects.
• Identify preventative therapies in immunocompromised patients.

ACPE Number: 0204-9999-24-919-H01-P

Gastrointestinal and Intra-abdominal Infections

• Assess pharmacotherapies for gastrointestinal and intra‐abdominal infections, including antimicrobial spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.
• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient‐ and disease-specific information, antibiogram data, and best available evidence.
• Interpret signs, symptoms, and laboratory and other relevant diagnostic test results.
• Recommend modifications of patient‐specific treatment plans based on efficacy, immunologic response, and adverse effects. 

Viral Hepatitis

• Assess pharmacotherapies for viral hepatitis, including relevant pharmacology and spectrum of activity.
• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient‐ and disease-specific information, virus and genotype, and best available evidence.
• Interpret signs, symptoms, laboratory and other relevant diagnostic test results.
• Recommend modifications of patient‐specific treatment plans based on efficacy, adverse effects, and drug interactions.
• Summarize key considerations in effective patient and caregiver education and counseling techniques.
• Identify screening guidelines and preventive therapies for viral hepatitis. 

Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Infections

• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient- and disease-specific information, antibiogram data, and best available evidence.
• Interpret signs, symptoms, laboratory and other relevant diagnostic test results.
• Recommend modifications of patient-specific treatment plans based on efficacy, adverse effects, and drug interactions.
• Outline key considerations in effective patient and caregiver education and counseling techniques.
• Identify screening guidelines and preventive therapies for tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections.

ACPE Number: 0204-9999-24-920-H01-P

Cardiovascular Infections

• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient‐ and disease-specific information, antibiogram data, and best available evidence.
• Identify drug‐related problems associated with the therapeutic plan.
• Recommend appropriate modifications of patient‐specific pharmacotherapeutic plans based on efficacy and adverse effects.
• Interpret biomedical literature with regard to study design and methodology, significance of reported data and conclusions, limitations, and applicability of study results to patients with cardiovascular infections. 

Urinary Tract Infections

• Assess pharmacotherapies for urinary tract infections, including antimicrobial spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.
• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient‐ and disease-specific information, antibiogram data, and best available evidence.
• Interpret signs, symptoms, laboratory and other relevant diagnostic test results.
• Identify infectious diseases for which notification of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is required. 

Statistics, Evidence-based Medicine, and Research Design

• Given an excerpt from a study…Evaluate quality and appropriateness, with specific attention to study design, statistical analysis, internal/external validity, source of bias/confounders, and quality of conclusions and interpretation of graphs.
• Explain why a statistical test is appropriate or not appropriate, based on the sample distribution, data type, and study design.
• Interpret clinical and statistical significance for results from commonly used statistical tests.
• Explain the strengths and limitations of different types of measures of central tendency (mean, median, and mode) and data spread (standard deviation, standard error of the mean, range, and interquartile range).
• Evaluate odds ratio, risk/incidence rate, relative risk, number needed to treat, number needed to harm, and other risk estimates.
• Assess whether the study applies to a specified patient population. 

ACPE Number: 0204-9999-24-921-H01-P

Bone and Joint Infections and Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

• Assess the advantages and disadvantages of pharmacotherapies for bone and joint infections and skin and soft tissue infections, including antimicrobial spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.
• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient‐ and disease-specific information, antibiogram data, and best available evidence.
• Identify drug‐related problems associated with the therapeutic plan.
• Interpret signs, symptoms, and laboratory and other relevant diagnostic test results.
• Recommend modifications of patient‐specific pharmacotherapeutic plans based on efficacy and adverse effects.
• Describe the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of acute bacterial osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in pediatric patients. 

Central Nervous System Infections

• Assess pharmacotherapies for central nervous system infections, including antimicrobial spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.
• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient‐ and disease-specific information, antibiogram data, and best available evidence.
• Interpret signs, symptoms, laboratory and other relevant diagnostic test results.
• Identify preventive therapies for central nervous system infections. 

Clinical Microbiology

• Explain the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance among various pathogens.
• Identify basic microbiology laboratory procedures.
• Interpret laboratory and other diagnostic test results relevant to the diagnosis, management, and monitoring of patients with infectious diseases.
• Evaluate biomedical literature with regard to study design and methodology specific to infectious diseases. 

COVID-19 Supplement

• Describe the etiology and diagnosis of COVID-19.
• Assess the advantages and disadvantages of pharmacotherapies for COVID-19, including recommendations for specific patient populations.
• Select the most appropriate pharmacotherapeutic plan and monitoring based on patient- and disease-specific information and best available evidence.
• List recommended immunizations and screening guidelines for patients with or at risk for COVID-19.
• Summarize key considerations in effective patient and caregiver education and counseling techniques.
• Interpret biomedical literature with regard to study design and methodology, significance of reported data and conclusions, limitations, and applicability of study results to patients with COVID-19.

The Core Therapeutic Modules Review Package consists of 10 activities in which faculty review clinical topics and practice skills using a case-based approach. The activities are designed to assist the learner in identifying knowledge gaps in preparation for a pharmacy specialty board examination. In addition to a recorded presentation, each activity includes links to resources for further self-study and a practice test developed in the same format and rigor as the specialty exam.

After participating in these CPE activities, learners should be able to:

Select Topics in Acid-Base Disorders
ACPE #: 0204-0000-21-610-H01-P

For the following specific acid/base disorders - respiratory, metabolic acid base disorders including anion gap/non-anion gap acidosis, renal tubular acidosis, as well as delta gap equation:

•  Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests.
• Recommend the most appropriate treatment and monitoring plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines

Select Topics in Infectious Diseases in Critical Care Patients
ACPE #: 0204-0000-22-643-H01-P

For the following specific infectious disease topics: urinary tract infections, meningitis, catheter related infections, bacteremia, and infective endocarditis:

• Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests.
• Recommend the most appropriate treatment and monitoring plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.

Select Neurology Topics in Critical Care Patients
ACPE #: 0204-0000-20-990-H01-P

• For the following specific critical care topics: status epilepticus, traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage:
  • Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests.
  • Evaluate benefits and risks of drug therapy considering other medication, and other patient-specific factors.
  • Recommend the most appropriate treatment and monitoring plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.

Alterations in Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Critical Care
ACPE #: 0204-0000-21-611-H01-P

• Identify pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) changes that occur in critical illness, and the impact on commonly administered medications in this setting.
• Apply knowledge of general PK/PD changes in critical illness to the following patient-specific factors that further complicate drug dosing:
  • Burns
  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy
  • Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT)
  • Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

• Develop a therapeutic strategy to optimize PK/PK for commonly used medications in the intensive care unit. "

Select Topics in Prevention and Supportive Care in Critical Care Patients
ACPE #: 0204-0000-20-991-H01-P

For the following specific critical care topics─stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP), venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, bowel regimens, and ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention:

• Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests.
• Recommend the most appropriate treatment and monitoring plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.

Select Topics in Toxicology
ACPE #: 0204-0000-21-612-H01-P

For the following specific toxicology topics: acetaminophen, toxic alcohols, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, opioids, and ecstasy:

• Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests
• Recommend the most appropriate treatment and monitoring plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.

Select Topics in Pulmonary Disorders
ACPE #: 0204-0000-22-644-H01-P

For the following specific pulmonary disease topics: asthma exacerbation, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary embolism, and pulmonary arterial hypertension:

• Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests.
• Recommend the most appropriate treatment and monitoring plans based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.

Cardiac Arrhythmias and Advanced Cardiac Life Support
ACPE #: 0204-0000-20-992-H01-P

• Interpret signs, symptoms and diagnostic tests for cardiac arrhythmias.
• Identify drug-related problems, including drug interactions and adverse effects, associated with pharmacotherapy of cardiac arrhythmias.
• Identify strategies to prevent drug-induced arrhythmias.
• Recommend therapy and monitoring for cardiac arrhythmias based on patient-specific information, current guidelines and Advanced Cardiac Life Support guided therapies.

Pharmacotherapy Considerations in the Management of Shock
ACPE #: 0204-0000-20-993-H01-P

• Interpret diagnostic and/or laboratory tests, vital signs, and clinical presentation in order to differentiate types of shock (hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic)
• Compare and contrast the pharmacologic agents utilized in shock
• Recommend therapy and monitoring based on patient-specific information and current guidelines for the treatment of shock

Fluid, Electrolytes, and Nutrition
ACPE #: 0204-0000-22-617-H01-P

• Interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests for fluid, electrolyte, and nutrition status.
• Recommend the most appropriate therapy and monitoring in patients with fluid, electrolyte, and nutritional disorders based on patient-specific information and current guidelines.
• Apply strategies to manage drug-related electrolyte interactions and nutrient interactions.

Faculty Bios

Travis J. Carlson, PharmD, BCIDP
Clinical Assistant Professor
The University of Texas at Austin
San Antonio, Texas 

Emily Frederick, PharmD, BCPS
Associate Professor and Vice Chair / Clinical Pharmacist
Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences / University of Louisville Hospital
Louisville, Kentucky 

Andrew Gainey, PharmD, BCIDP, AAHIVP
Pediatric Infectious Disease Clinical Pharmacist Specialist / Clinical Assistant Professor
Prisma Health Children’s Hospital – Midlands / University of South Carolina, College of Pharmacy
Columbia, South Carolina 

Katherine Gruenberg, PharmD, MA, BCPS, BCIDP
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, California 

Larissa Hacker, PharmD, BCIDP
Pediatric and Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist
University of Wisconsin Health
Madison, Wisconsin 

Julie Harting, PharmD, BCIDP
Associate Professor
Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Louisville, Kentucky 

David Koren, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, AAHIVP, FIDSA
Clinical Pharmacist Specialist - Infectious Diseases
Temple University Health System
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

Jerika Lam, PharmD, APh, AAHIVP, FCSHP*
Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice / Infectious Diseases Pharmacist
Chapman University School of Pharmacy / AltaMed Healthcare
Irvine, California 

J. Nicholas O'Donnell, PharmD, MSc
Associate Professor / Visiting Faculty
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences / Albany Medical Center
Albany, New York 

Natasha Pettit, PharmD, BCIDP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, ID/ASP
University of Chicago Medicine
Chicago, Illinois 

Jessica Robinson, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP*
Associate Professor / Associate Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship
University of Charleston School of Pharmacy / Charleston Area Medical Center
Charleston, West Virginia 

Lucas Schulz, PharmD, BCIDP
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Pharmacy
Madison, Wisconsin 

Kayla R. Stover, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, FCCP, FIDSA*
Professor and Vice Chair of Pharmacy Practice; Assistant Dean Jackson
University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy
Jackson, Mississippi

Marylee Tailor, PharmD, BCIDP
Assistant Professor
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

Trang D. Trinh, PharmD, MPH, BCIDP, BCPS
Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California 

Nancy N. Vuong, PharmD, MBIOT, BCPS, BCIDP
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Infectious Diseases
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas 

Wenjing Wei, PharmD, BCIDP
Clinical Pharmacist in Infectious Diseases
Parkland Hospital
Dallas, Texas

*Content Matter Experts

Susan R. Dombrowski, MS, RPh
Kristi N. Hofer, PharmD

Agnes Vitarini, PharmD
Alanna Rufe, PharmD, BCIDP
Alec Wesolowski, PharmD, BCIDP
Alex Dominguez, PharmD, MAS, BCPS, BCIDP
Amy Pu, Pharm.D, BCPS, BCIDP
Anna Poston-Blahnik, PharmD, BCIDP, AAHIVP
Benjamin Reddoch, PharmD, BCIDP
Brett Keskes, PharmD, BCIDP
Brian Hughes, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Brittany Jackson, PharmD, BCIDP
Caitrin Vordtriede, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Christian Cho, PharmD, BCIDP
David Kubiak, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, FIDSA
Davin Kamiyama, PharmD, BCIDP
Dolly Cardona, PharmD, BCIDP
Edward Alvarez, PharmD, BCIDP, BCCCP
Elaine Hassan, PharmD, BCIDP
Elhussein Ghoneim, MSCClinPharm, BCIDP, BCACP
Elysia Burke, PharmD, BCIDP
Erin Occhino, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Ethan Rausch, PharmD, BCIDP
Gina Belfiore, PharmD, BCIDP
Hakeem Abayomi, PharmD, BS, BCPS, BCPPS, BCIDP, BCCCP
Jacob Kesner, PharmD, BCIDP
James McCracken-Goncalves, PharmD, BCIDP, AAHIVP
Joanne Huang, PharmD, BCIDP
Jon Bachna, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, BCIDP
Kady Stoyanov, BCIDP
Katherine Lusardi, PharmD, BCIDP
Larissa Hacker, PharmD, BCIDP
Lionel Sielatchom Noubissie, PharmD, BCIDP
Lubabah Mousa, PharmD, MSc, BCIDP
Marco Custodio, PharmD, BCIDP, BCCCP, AAHIVP, CNSC
Melissa Danek, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Mercedes Fraga, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, BCIDP
Michael Casias, PharmD, BCIDP, AAHIVP
Miranda Fuller, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Mollie VanNatta, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Nicole Alilaen, PharmD, BCIDP
Obioma Ubaka, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Polly Jen, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Rama Nasef, PharmD, BCIDP
Reese Cosimi, PharmD, BCIDP
Safa Elkhidir, MClinPharm
Samantha Sallerson, PharmD, BCIDP
Sandra Naegele, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Sneha Monzy, PharmD, BCIDP
Stacy Harrington, BSPharm, BCIDP
Stephanie Ducas, PharmD, BCIDP
Stephen Vickery, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Surafel Mulugeta, PharmD, MS, BCPS, BCIDP
Thanawat Chattaweelarp, PharmD, BCIDP
Thomas Leung, PharmD, BCIDP
Timothy Schulta, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP
Yehia El Khawly, Pharm D, BCIDP

In accordance with our accreditor’s Standards of Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, ASHP requires that all individuals in control of content disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if they have had a financial relationship with an ineligible company in any dollar amount in the past 24 months and the educational content that the individual controls is related to the business lines or products of the ineligible company. 

An ineligible company is any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. The presence or absence of relevant financial relationships will be disclosed to the activity audience. 

The following persons in control of this activity’s content have relevant financial relationships: 

Jerika Lam: Viral Hep- Speakers' bureau - Gilead Sciences; Consultant - ViiV Healthcare
David Koren: Speakers' bureau - Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare
Travis Carlson: Speakers' bureau - Seres Therapeutics (ongoing)
Lucas Schulz: Grant recipient – Merck 

All other persons in control of content do not have any relevant financial relationships with an ineligible company. 

As required by the Standards of Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, all relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to the CPE activity.

Activities can be completed in any order. Each activity consists of audio, video, and/or PDFs and evaluations. Learners must review all content and complete the evaluations to receive continuing pharmacy education credit for each activity. 

Follow the prompts to claim, view, or print the statement of credit within 60 days after completing the activity. 

ASHP and ACCP collaborate on infectious diseases activities.