Overview

Learning Objective

Sponsorship and Support

Intended Audience

Accreditation

Credit Designation

Faculty

Biography

Disclosures

Mission of the Peer·Point Medical Education Institute

Disclaimer

Persistent fever with neutropenia amplifies the risk of life-threatening infections, particularly those caused by fungal pathogens. In this interactive, accredited activity for physicians and nurses, case challenges of fever with neutropenia are posed to the participant and coupled with relevant overviews of empiric and directed antifungal treatments in this setting.

At the completion of this educational activity, physicians and nurses who care for patients with fever and neutropenia will be able to assess the risk of invasive fungal infection in these patients and empirically treat fungal pathogens in this context to reduce significant morbidity and mortality.

This CME/CE activity is sponsored by the Peer·Point Medical Education Institute, LLC, and is supported by an independent educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc.

This activity is intended for medical oncologists, hematologists, oncology nurses, infectious-disease specialists, and other healthcare professionals who diagnose or treat fever with neutropenia.

The Peer·Point Medical Education Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education to physicians.

The Peer·Point Medical Education Institute designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 category 1 credits toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the activity. Approval for this program expires September 1, 2006.

The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) has approved this program for 1.5 contact hours, CERP Category A, file number 00012864. Approval for this program expires September 1, 2007.

Jeanne Held-Warmkessel, MSN, RN, APRN, BC, AOCN^®      Biography

Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Philadelphia, PA

Brahm H. Segal, MD       Biography

Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, NY

Ms. Held-Warmkessel has served as a speaker for Abraxis Oncology and Novartis and as a speaker and advisor for Pfizer.

Dr. Segal has received research support from Astellas, Enzon, Fujisawa Healthcare, and Pfizer and has served as an advisor or data-review committee member for Schering-Plough and Vicuron. He has received speaking honoraria from Merck and Pfizer.

To ensure that our continuing medical education activities are independent, scientifically rigorous, and free of commercial bias, Peer·Point independently develops and reviews activity content and marketing, attendee registration, and event production. Peer·Point ensures that faculty presentations address multiple viewpoints and foster debate, when appropriate.

Peer·Point recruits faculty thought leaders who are deeply committed to independent education. Activity content is driven by demonstrable educational needs that are based on acknowledged treatment guidelines, literature reviews, and clinician interviews. The integrity of the content is ensured by managing and resolving faculty conflicts of interest. Peer·Point strives to provide educational activities that lead to measurable improvements in clinical outcomes.

Contact Peer·Point by calling 800-777-5790 or e-mail us at cme@peerpt.com.

The materials presented in conjunction with the educational activity do not necessarily reflect the views of the Peer·Point Medical Education Institute or Merck & Co., Inc. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before any pharmaceutical or medical product is used. All readers or continuing-education participants of this or any educational activity should verify all information and data before treating patients or employing any therapies or procedures described.