Kristen Greene, Nicholas Piccicacco, and Mel O’Neal, ID Clinical Pharmacists at Tampa General Hospital, present an overview of antimicrobial dosing strategies to optimize efficacy and effectiveness of these therapies. Topics covered include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, vancomycin dosing, the importance of drug binding, dosing in renal insufficiency, and Beta-lactam allergies.

Dr. Richard Oehler, Professor of Medicine at the Division of Infectious Diseases/USF Morsani College of Medicine, presents a review of bacteremia. Dr. Oehler begins by reviewing the epidemiology, personal and institutional costs of bacteremia. He then discusses blood culture collection and how false positive blood cultures occur. Next, Dr. Oehler reviews automated blood culture systems and multiplex PCR and MALDI-TOF technology. The speaker then contrasts gram positive and gram negative bacteremia in general and by organism. The management of a positive blood culture with regard to treatment and source control is discussed. Lastly, ways to reduce the incidence of bacteremia are shared.

Dr. Olga Klinkova, Infectious Diseases Physician at the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, presents an introductory session on the management of the immunocompromised patient. Dr. Klinkova begins by explaining the major immune deficits in patients with hematologic malignancy and stem cell transplantation (SCT). She then outlines the likely pathogens that produce infections based on the timeline after cancer therapy or SCT. She further explains the major pulmonary syndromes seen in hematologic malignancies and transplant. Lastly, she discusses infections that can occur after CAR-T therapies as well as CMV infection post-transplant.

Dr. Suzane Silbert, Director of Tampa General Hospital’s Microbiology laboratory, presents an introductory lecture on the modern infectious diseases laboratory. Topics covered include basic microorganism classification schemes, basic microscopy, E tests, culture techniques, mass spectroscopy, PCR assays, and other molecular technology. Syndromic multiplex panels are also mentioned. The lecture is suitable for medical trainees, medical residents, and infectious diseases fellows.

Dr. Shylah Moore-Pardo, associate program director of the ID fellowship program at the Morsani College of Medicine, conducts this interactive board review suitable for Medical Students, Residents, and Fellows. Five different categories of questions are covered.

Dr. Olga Klinkova, Infectious Diseases clinician at Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, conducts a board review session on Candida Infections targeted towards the medical resident or Infectious Diseases Fellow. Topics discussed include a comparison and contrast of the different Candida species, information on Candida auris, Candidemia, and disseminated (hepatosplenic) candidiasis. Also discussed are novel antifungals used for azole-resistant candidiasis. Guidelines based reference sources are also mentioned.

Dr. Yanina Pasikhova, Infectious Diseases Pharmacist at Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, presents a talk on three lesser well known adverse drug effects involving antimicrobials. Dr. Pasikhova discusses the link between voriconazole and bone pain, the association between posaconazole and refractory hypertension and hypokalemia, and the neurological effects of of metronidazole therapy. Clinical pearls are provided for each interaction discussed.

Dr. Medaris, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Bay Pines Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, conducts a review of Rickettsial Infections. After starting with an overview of the genus Rickettsia, Dr. Medaris moves on to discuss Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, R. Parkeri, Mediterranean Spotted Fever, and Rickettsial Pox. African Tick Bite Fever is next discussed, followed by Sylvatic and Murine Typhus. Lastly, Dr. Medaris discusses Coxiella infections. Though not strictly a Rickettsiosis, it shares similarities with the Rickettsial group. The lecture is suitable for board review or for gaining further knowledge regarding these unusual pathogens.

Dr. Drew Wilson, ID Pharmacy Resident, discusses the new options for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection. Options discussed include oral PrEP (Truvada, Descovy), cabotegravir, and a newer option, lenacapravir. A prescribing algorithm is also presented, and the topic of developing resistance is also covered. Lastly, Dr. Wilson touches upon other novel agents for PrEP, as well as DoxyPEP for the prevention of bacterial STIs.

Parker Kaleo, PharmD, Pgy2 ID Pharmacy Resident, presents a review of several recent controversies in infectious diseases. He addresses the optimal therapy for refractory MSSA bacteremia, the use of “cidal” versus “bacteriostatic” antimicrobials for severe infections, oral cephalosporins as step down therapy for severe infections, the penetration of cefazolin for CNS infections, and the use of isuvaconazole for Candida albicans infections. The presentation is given in a “confirmed,” “plausible,” or “busted ” format.