Ticks and Transmission: Nasty Little Bugs, Nastier Disease
Target Audience: Pharmacist
Course Overview
Various types of ticks transmit infectious pathogens known as vector-borne diseases. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease, but other tick-borne diseases, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and tularemia, also pose serious threats to human health. Alpha-gal syndrome has also emerged as a health threat. It is not an infection but a serious allergy that develops after a tick bite in some people. This continuing education activity discusses these other, less common tick-borne diseases, their symptoms, and appropriate treatments, as well as alpha-gal syndrome.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe the types and symptoms of tick-borne infections
- Identify each infection’s treatment based on CDC guidelines
- Recall counseling points for patients and advice for prescribers
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. An Overview of Ticks and Tick-borne Illnesses
III. Why Do We Need Ticks
IV. How Pathogens Modify Tick Behavior
V. Ticks and Disease Transmission
A. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Rickettsiosis
B. Anaplasmosis
C. Babesiosis
D. Ehrlichiosis
E. Tularemia
F. Alpha(α)-gal Syndrome
VI. A Word About Pregnancy
VII. In the Pharmacy
VIII. Summary
From March 12, 2024 through March 12, 2027, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Jeannette Y. Wick, RPh, MBA, FASCP, and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo and Jeannette Y. Wick have no conflicts of interest or financial relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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- Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 / Mac OS X 10.9 or later / iOS / Android
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- A connection to the internet
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.