Melissa Albert, Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Resident, discusses the recent new literature regarding changes in the clinical breakpoints. Utilizing clinical cases, Dr. Albert demonstrates how to interpret antimicrobial susceptibility reports as well as how to design a patient-centered treatment regimen. Dr. Albert also discusses inducible AmpC-E resistance and how specific breakpoints have been changed for Aminoglycosides.

Dr. Kami Kim, Chief of the USF’s Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, presents an update on Malaria and fever in the returning traveller. Dr. Kim begins her talk by presenting an overview of the tropical infections associated with a febrile presentation. She then discusses the work up if the returning traveller with fever, including essential elements of the history, physical exam, and laboratory workup. She then reviews the history of malaria and then moves on to malaria epidemiology. The life cycle of malaria is presented, and then the factors associated with transmission are reviewed. Malaria diagnostics are also discussed. Lastly, Dr. Kim closes by contrasting the distinctions between the individual malaria species (falciparum, malariae, ovale, knowlesi) and their clinical spectrums of disease.

Dr. Jose Montero, Professor of Medicine at the Division of Infectious Diseases, Morsani College of Medicine, presents a basic review of anti-infective agents. Dr. Montero begins by discussing the initial assessment of antibiotic choice, related to broad versus narrow spectrum coverage, allergy assessement, and awareness of normal flora versus pathogens. Next, he discusses MIC interpretation and mechanisms of resistance. Dr. Montero then covers each of the major antibiotic classes, including cephalosporins, carbapenems, flouroquinolones, aminoglycosides, gloycopeptines, and oxazolidinones. Lastly, Dr. Montero discusses antibiotic agents used for the coverage of highly resistant bacteria. Cost information about antibiotic agents is also shared.

Dr. Ana Velez, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases Clinician at Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, discusses the association between malignancies and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Dr. Velez begins by discussing that factors in HIV disease and stimulate the formation of cancers. Next, Dr. Velez discusses AIDS defining maligancies, including Kaposi sarcoma, Non-Hodgekin Lymphoma, and cervical cancer. Dr. Velez then discusses lung cancer and head and neck cancer in HIV disease, and speculates on the reasons for poorer outcomes in these patients. Lastly, state of the art therapies for malignancy treatment in HIV patients are discussed, including stem cell transplantation and CAR-T therapy.

Dr. Sally Alrabaa, Co-Director of Transplant Infectious Diseases at the Morsani College of Medicine, presents an overview of infection issues surrounding the solid organ transplant patient. Dr. Alrabaa differentiates specific infections based upon the early, medium, and late transplant periods. She then covers infections associated with certain specific immunosuppressive regimens. Next, the speaker discusses infections characteristic of different transplant types, including kidney, heart, liver, and lung transplants. Lastly, Dr. Alrabaa briefly touches upon Covid-19 and transplantation.

Dr. Kristen Zeitler, a pharmacist and pharmacotherapy specialist at Tampa General Hospital, discusses basic information about how to properly dose antimicrobial agents in hospital patients. Dr. Zietler begins by discussing the role that ID clinical pharmacist play in hospitals. She then compares and contrasts the differences between pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). The principles of pharmacokinetics are then covered, with regard to absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination. Next, PK/PD concepts are explored, especially as it relates to Vancomycin. Lastly, adjustment of dosing in renal insufficiency or dialysis is explored.

Dr. Suzanne Silbert, Microbiology Director for Tampa General Hospital, presents this introductory talk on the basics of the microbiology lab. Dr. Silbert begins with an overview of clinical microbiology, and then reviews the basic classification standards for bacterial organisms, viruses and fungi. She then goes on to discuss culture cultivation techniques, including the use of liquid, solid, or semi-solid media. The speaker then covers identification systems for bacterial organisms, including MALDI-TOF, Disk-Diffusion, and molecular diagnostic techniques. A robust question and answer session concludes the session

Dr. Jaraad Dattadeen, Infectious Diseases Senior Fellow at the Division of Infectious Diseases at the USF College of Medicine, discusses coronaviruses other than SARS-CoV2. Dr. Dattadeen begins by discussing the general classification of Coronaviruses as well as their microbiology. The speaker covers SARS CoV-1, MERS, as well as HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-HKU1. Each virus subtype is compared with SARS-CoV2. The intermediate hosts and reservoirs of select coronaviruses are also discussed.

Dr. Amro Elshereye, Infectious Diseases Fellow at the Morsani USF College of Medicine, explores the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine in this interactive presentation and faculty discussion. The speaker begins by discussing early warning systems such as Healthmap which utilize AI to predict developing outbreaks. Next, Dr Elshereye explains voice recognition technology in medicine, including AI-powered transcription systems such as Dragon Medical One. The discussion then moves on to generative transformer technology including ChatGPT, which could revolutionize many fields of health practice, including consultation, doctor-patient communication, and diagnostic interpretation. Lastly, Dr. Elshereye also explores the drawbacks of artificial intelligence and some of the grave predictions many technology thought leaders have made if guardrails are not put in place soon enough for AI.

Dr. William Greene, Infectious Diseases Fellow at the USF Morsani College Medicine, discusses biological weapons in this new podcast. After defining the concept of a bioweapon, Dr. Greene first discusses the extensive history of bioweapons, starting in ancient times, extending through the middle ages, through the world wars, and beyond the cold war to the present day. Next, Dr. Greene categorizes biologic terrorism agents by their CDC category, and discusses current bioterrorism threats. These include Anthrax, Plague, and Smallpox. Specific treatments to these infections are also discussed.