Bugs and Drugs Primer (Faculty)

The new Bugs and Drugs primer covers key microbiology and pharmacology concepts as well as case-based exercises on management of Gram positive and Gram negative organisms; to provide a foundation for stewardship principles and practice along with many other high yield concepts.

Content in this section is available through (7) eLearning modules or (2) video presentation slides for modules 1 and 2. The7 modules include:

Module 1: Foundations of Microbiology - Susceptibility Testing and Rapid Diagnostics
Module 2: Foundation of Pharmacology
Module 3: Foundations - Case One
Module 4: Foundations - Case Two
Module 5: Foundations - Case Three 
Module 6: Foundations - Case Four 
Module 7: Foundations - Case Five 

Target Audience

This course is designed specifically for ID training program directors, ID Pharmacists, AS medical directors, the designated Antimicrobial Stewardship Champion or other faculty members that will be implementing the AS curriculum for stewards in training.

Learning Objectives

Bugs (Microbiology) Learning Objectives:

  • Describe methods, use and limitations of culture and non-culture based rapid diagnostic tests most relevant to the practice of antimicrobial stewardship
  • Describe commonly utilized methods of antimicrobial susceptibility testing in the clinical microbiology lab and explain benefits and limitations of each method
  • Describe principles of MIC interpretation and apply practical CLSI data effectively when considering a case
  • Discuss rapid diagnostic and resistance/susceptibility testing principles most important to the major bacterial pathogens (S.aureus, Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus) relevant to stewardship


Drugs (Pharmacology) Learning Objectives:

  • Describe general concepts and principles of the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of antimicrobials
  • Identify PK/PD indices of specific antimicrobials most associated with bacterial eradication.
  • Characterize how drug exposure impacts antimicrobial efficacy, toxicity and resistance in order to design appropriate antimicrobial regimens
  • Identify clinical circumstances favoring the performance of antimicrobial Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) (e.g. available drug assay, unpredictable drug dose-exposure relationship, clear relationship between drug exposure and efficacy and/or toxicity)
  • Apply PK/PD data, target indices, and therapeutic drug monitoring to the design of appropriate antimicrobial regimens for patients with altered pharmacokinetics and/or in special populations
Course summary
Course opens: 
07/01/2021
Course expires: 
07/01/2024
Rating: 
0
This version of the curriculum is not accredited for CME or MOC.
Please login or register to take this course.

Required Hardware/software

PCs Running Window

  • Windows 10  
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Google Chrome

Apple Computers Running OSX

  • Safari
  • Firefox
  • Google Chrome