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