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First came the wave of new agents aimed at resistant gram positive organisms, now the first novel serine beta-lactam/beta lactamase combination with expanded activity against multidrug resistant gram negative agents.The Anti-Infective Drug Advisory Committee (AIDAC) Meeting meets December 5, 2014 to discuss the new drug application (NDA) for ceftazidime-avibactam, submitted by Cerexa Inc., for the proposed indications of: Complicated Intra-abdominal Infections, Complicated Urinary Tract Infections, including Acute Pyelonephritis and Limited Use Indication: Aerobic Gram-negative Infections with Limited Treatment Options. 

This year, Get Smart About Antibiotics Week is being observed during November 17–23, 2014. This is an annual observance to raise awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate prescribing and use. The observance is a key component of CDC's efforts to improve antibiotic stewardship in communities, in health care facilities, and on farms in collaboration with state-based programs and others. Get Smart About Antibiotics Week coincides with many global antibiotic resistance observances, including those in Europe, Australia, and Canada. Information on scheduled activities and how to get involved in combating antibiotic resistance is available at http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/week.

For those who work in acute care hospitals, given the recent events in Dallas, TX, would encourage review of the CDC website for the latest and most reliable information on Ebola virus and the response needed at the local level particularly at referral centers.  There are also links to the potential for IND use of ZMapp.  The CDC’s Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) program continues to organize webinars.  The American Hospital Association will be conducting a webinar program tomorrow October 17th at 11am EST,

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Harvoni (ledipasvir and sofosbuvir) to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection.  It is the first approved regimen that is interferon or ribavirin sparing.

For more information, please visit: Harvoni.

Feb. 2-3, 2015. This two-day training course is designed for physicians of infectious diseases, healthcare epidemiologists, microbiologists, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers who are involved with creating, implementing, or improving an antimicrobial stewardship program for their healthcare institution. It meets the training needs set out in California Bill SB 1311 for Stewardship training. For more information and to register for the conference, visit the Webpage

After initially issuing a complete response and denial of the individual drugs in 2013 to Gilead, the FDA approved the drugs last week.  

Last week the White House announced the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) release of a report to the President, Combating Antibiotic Resistance. The report was released simultaneously with a National Strategy on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria as well as with a Presidential Executive Order, emphasizing to the Nation the importance of addressing this growing challenge.

2014 NFID Fall Clinical Vaccinology Course scheduled for November 7-9, 2014 at the Houston Marriott at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, TX.

Early registration closes on September 29, 2014! Register before then to save $100.

Earn up to 19.75 hours of continuing education credit (CME, CNE, CPE).

Please click here for details and registration.

CLSI 2015 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Update
February 4, 2015 or February 5 1015
1:00 - 2:30 PM ET 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET
Registration Deadline: February 2, 2015

Early Bird Pricing Available!
Register online by 1/7/15 to qualify.

DESCRIPTION
Each January, CLSI updates standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). It is important for clinical laboratories to incorporate the new recommendations into routine practice to optimize detection and reporting of antimicrobial resistance. In January 2015, the annual update of the M100 tables (CLSI document M100-S25) will publish. In addition, there will be updates to the standards that describe performance of disk diffusion and MIC tests in versions M02-A12 and M07-A10, respectively. Some highlights for 2015 include introduction of the carbaNP test for carbapenemases and expanded recommendations for quality control testing. These changes and several other new recommendations found in M100-S25, M02-A12 and M07-A10 will be
discussed. In addition to the webinar, an optional postprogram self-assessment
will be provided that will allow individuals to assess their knowledge regarding the
most important AST and reporting issues for 2015. Laboratories can use this
feature to augment competency assessment requirements for their staff.

FACULTY
Janet A. Hindler, MCLS MT(ASCP), Sr. Specialist, Clinical Microbiology, UCLA Health System, Los Angeles, CA

AUDIENCE
This intermediate-level program is appropriate for laboratory professionals working in clinical and academic settings.

CONTINUING EDUCATION is available

REGISTRATION
Registration fee is per site for one connection to the live program with unlimited
attendance (and CEUs) for everyone AND unlimited access (and CEUs) to the archive program for 6 months

Early Bird Special $110: Register online by January 7, 2015
Regular fee: $125 when you register by registration form or online after January 7, 2015

Site facilitator must register online at www.aphl.org/courses/pages/588-950-15.aspx. Having difficulty with the online registration process? Please email registrar@aphl.org or call 240.485.2727 from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM ET
. ET.

Triumeq (ABACAVIR SULFATE;DOLUTEGRAVIR;LAMIVUDINE)

was approved by the FDA on August 22nd, marking the second once daily integrase combination approved but without the drug interactions and intolerances associated with cobicistat in the QUAD pill.  Information from the SINGLE trial is available from the CROI 2014 meeting and a review of the agent in N Engl J Med. 2013;369:1807-1818.