Trends in Infectious Diseases: Updates on Treatment & Prevention Strategies for HIV and HCV

Faculty

Don C. des Jarlais, PhD
Professor of Epidemiology, Social and Behavioral Sciences
College of Global Public Health, New York University
Associate Director, Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Theory Corev Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research
New York, New York

Charlene A. Flash, MD, MPH
Associate Chief Medical Officer, Legacy Community Health
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas

Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of primary care clinicians, infectious diseases specialists, hepatologists, gastroenterologists, and other clinicians involved in the screening or treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Statement of Need

The prevalence of chronic HCV infections among people who have injected drugs in the past 12 months is 39 percent.¹ The demographic shift in HCV from baby boomers (a cohort whose HCV has been largely treated) to younger persons is driven by injection drug use. And on top of that, the current opioid epidemic demands HCV elimination strategies that prioritize this critical population, which is what Drs. Charlene Flash and Don des Jarlais are here to discuss.

References

1. Degenhardt L, Peacock A, Colledge S, et al. Global prevalence of injecting drug use and sociodemographic characteristics and prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV in people who inject drugs: a multistage systematic review. Lancet Glob Health. 2017; 5(12):e1192-e1207.

Educational Objective

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Describe the imperative for and feasibility of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for HCV-infected people who inject drugs (PWID)

Physician Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications. Global is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

Global Education Group designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing Continuing Education

Global Education Group is accredited with distinction as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

This educational activity for 0.25 contact hour is provided by Global Education Group. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Global Contact Information

For information about the accreditation of this program, please contact Global at 303-395-1782 or cme@globaleducationgroup.com.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to receive credit, participants must complete the preassessment questions, view the activity in its entirety, and complete the posttest and program evaluation. Participants must also score at least 70% on the posttest. You will receive a digital copy of your credit certificate at the conclusion of the activity.

System Requirements

PC
Microsoft Windows 2000 SE or above.
Flash Player Plugin (v7.0.1.9 or greater)
Internet Explorer (v5.5 or greater), or Firefox

MAC
MAC OS 10.2.8
Flash Player Plugin (v7.0.1.9 or greater)
Safari
Internet Explorer is not supported on the Macintosh.

Fee Information & Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.

Disclosure of Conflict of Interest

Global Education Group (Global) requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals and their spouses/life partners who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Global for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Don C. des Jarlais, PhD: Nothing to disclose.
Charlene A. Flash, MD, MPH: Nothing to disclose.

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouses/life partners have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Ashley Marostica, RN, MSN: Nothing to disclose
Lindsay Borvansky: Nothing to disclose
Andrea Funk: Nothing to disclose
Liddy Knight: Nothing to disclose
Ashley Cann: Nothing to disclose
Jim Kappler, PhD: Nothing to disclose
Julia Munio: Nothing to disclose

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Global Education Group (Global) and Integritas Communications do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.