Upcoming COCA Call : Recognizing And Managing Tickborne Illnesses

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It seems almost every year we learn of a new tickborne illness that can be contracted in the United States. Last  January we saw a New Lyme-Disease-Causing Bacteria Species Discovered - called Borrelia mayonii -  which has recently been discovered to be causing a Lyme-like illness in Minnesota and Wisconsin.


Before that, we saw reports on:

CDC & EID Journal On The Recently Discovered Bourbon Virus

EID Journal: Novel Bunyavirus In Livestock – Minnesota

MMWR: Heartland Virus Disease — United States, 2012–2013

Far more common is Lyme disease, which the CDC estimates may affect 300,000 Americans every year.  The CDC maintains a long  (and growing) list of of tick borne pathogens available in North America, including:

Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Colorado tick fever, Ehrlichiosis, Heartland virus, Lyme disease, Powassan disease, Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis ,Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), STARI (Southern tick-associated rash illness)Tickborne relapsing fever (TBRF), Tularemia,364D rickettsiosis

As the number (and geographic range) of these diseases grow, it becomes increasingly challenging to properly diagnose and manage patients early in their illness.   Next week the CDC will hold a COCA Call for healthcare provides to cover precisely that topic.

Although primarily of interest to clinicians, the CDC holds frequent COCA (Clinician Outreach Communication Activity) calls which are designed to ensure that practitioners have up-to-date information for their practices.

This COCA Call/Webinar will be archived and available for Web-on-demand training after 3:00 PM EST on 5/24/16.

Little Bite, Big Disease: Recognizing and Managing Tickborne Illnesses

 

= Free Continuing Education

Date:Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Time:2:00 - 3:00 pm (Eastern Time)
Participate by Phone:

• 800-857-9697 (U.S. Callers)
• 312-470-7286 (International Callers)

Passcode:1921389

Participate by Webinar: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PW6927525&p=1921389&t=c

Presenter(s)

Naomi Drexler, MPH 
Epidemiologist
Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch
Division of Vector-Borne Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Christina Nelson MD, MPH
Medical Epidemiologist
Bacterial Diseases Branch
Division of Vector-Borne Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Elizabeth Schiffman, MPH, MA
Senior Epidemiologist
Minnesota Department of Health

Overview

Ticks transmit over a dozen infectious pathogens in the United States, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Recent discoveries of emerging pathogens such as Borrelia mayonii and Ehrlichia muris add to the complexity of properly diagnosing and treating tickborne diseases. As we approach summer and people become more active in the outdoors, reports of tick bites and tickborne diseases are expected to increase. Clinicians can help prevent complications associated with tickborne diseases with early recognition and prompt treatment. During this COCA Call, clinicians will learn about the treatment, management, and prevention of tickborne diseases in the U.S., with an emphasis on Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and newly emerging tickborne diseases.

Objectives

• Review the geographic distribution of Lyme disease, Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and other emerging tickborne diseases.
• Define the symptoms of Lyme disease, STARI, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and emerging tickborne diseases.
• Identify the serologic tests used to diagnose Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and emerging tickborne diseases.
• Describe the appropriate use of antibiotics in treating Lyme disease, STARI, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and emerging tickborne diseases.