Drug-Resistant Superbugs, Multi-drug Resistant Organisms: MRSA, VRE, Clostridioides difficile, and CRE (Online CE Course)

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Authors: Carolyn M. Law, PhD, MT(AMT); Catherine Dragoni, MT(ASCP)SM
Co-author: Judi Bennett, MT, BSM
Reviewer: Julie Ann West, PhD, MLS(ASCP)CM, SM(ASCP)CM

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In light of the recent death of a Nevada woman infected with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), we wonder how prepared our laboratory professionals are for the challenges that may lie ahead.
To aid in the continued education about CRE and other multi-drug resistant microbes, we're republishing our Multi-drug Resistant Organisms: MRSA, VRE, Clostridium difficile, and CRE course. New information and updates have been added to address the potential of increased CRE infections.
Multiple drug resistant organisms (MDROs) are a serious problem facing healthcare and the general public. This course details the clinical significance, risk factors, and laboratory detection of these multi-drug resistant organisms: methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin resistant Enterococcus species, Clostridium difficile, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

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Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours (acceptable for AMT, ASCP, and state recertification): 2.5 hour(s)
Approved through 5/31/2024
Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel Credit Hours - General (Microbiology/Mycology/Parasitology): 2.5 hour(s)
Approved through 5/31/2024

Objectives

  • Identify the virulence factors that are expressed by drug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridioides difficile, Enterococcus faecium and faecalis, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.
  • List the risk factors and clinical syndromes that are associated with these drug resistant organisms.
  • Describe the recommended laboratory procedures involved in screening for and detecting drug-resistant organisms.
  • Name the drugs that are currently available for treatment of these infections and describe the proper treatment protocols.

Customer Ratings

(based on 514 customer ratings)

Course Outline

Click on the links below to preview selected pages from this course.
  • Introduction
  • Staphylococcus aureus
      • Staphylococcus aureus
      • S. aureus Virulence Factors
      • The pathogenicity of S. aureus, as well as the frequency with which this organism produces infections, can be attributed to:
      • Clinical significance of S. aureus
      • Beta-lactam antibiotics and S. aureus
      • Which of these describes the mode of action of the beta-lactam class of antibiotics?
      • Beta-lactam antibiotics interfere with cell wall synthesis by:
  • MRSA
  • Laboratory Diagnosis of MRSA
      • Laboratory Identification of S. aureus
      • Screening Cultures for MRSA
      • Assume you perform microbiology for an institution submitting surveillance cultures for MRSA. Which isolate should receive further workup to rule out ...
    • Susceptibility Testing of Isolates
      • Susceptibility Testing
      • Selection of Drugs for Testing
      • Interpretation of Oxacillin Broth Dilution Tests
      • Interpretation of Oxacillin and Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion Tests
      • Detection of Oxacillin Resistance
      • Which of the following scenarios represents appropriate detection of MRSA by the Kirby Bauer method?
      • A laboratory performs MIC tests, in addition to Kirby Bauer, and a PBP 2a assay on blood culture isolates. Which of the following isolates should be r...
  • MRSA Treatment/Vancomycin Resistance in S. aureus
      • MRSA Treatment/Vancomycin Resistance
      • Vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) and Vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA)
    • Testing for Vancomycin Susceptibility
      • Testing for Vancomycin Susceptibility
      • A laboratory's primary susceptibility testing method is disk diffusion. The cefoxitin disc has a zone size of 19 mm and the vancomycin disc has a zone...
  • Future Perspectives: MRSA
      • Future Perspectives
      • Future Perspectives, continued
      • Future Perspectives, continued
      • Moving forward, important strategies for dealing with MRSA strains will include which of the following?
  • Enterococcus
      • Enterococci
      • Risk Factors and Resistance
      • Enterococci can possess both intrinsic and acquired resistance. Which of the following represents the intrinsic resistance of a typical enterococcal s...
  • Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci
      • Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) Phenotypes
      • Which statements concerning vancomycin resistance in enterococci are true?
  • Laboratory Diagnosis of VRE
  • Treatment of Resistant Enterococci
      • Newer antibiotics for Treatment of Resistant Enterococci
  • Clostridium Species
      • Clostridium Species
  • Clostridioides difficile
      • Clostridioides difficile
      • C. difficile Toxin A and Toxin B
      • Pathogenisis of C. Difficile-Associated Diarrhea
      • Risk factors for C. difficile Infection
      • C. difficile-associated Diarrhea (CDAD)
      • C. difficile disease is more likely to occur when:
      • Strain BI/NAP1/027
  • Laboratory Diagnosis of CDAD
      • Laboratory Detection of C. difficile
      • Stool Culture
      • Cell Cytotoxicity Neutralization Assay (CCNA)
      • Enzyme Immunoassay Methods
      • Various methods have been employed for detection of C. difficile disease: cultivation of the organism, cell cytotoxin neutralization assays, and enzym...
      • Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GDH) Antigen Assays
      • Molecular Methods
      • Which of the following approaches for diagnostic testing have been indicated by recent literature?
  • Treatment of C. difficile Infection
  • Future perspectives
      • Future Perspectives: CDI/CDAD
  • Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales
  • Laboratory Diagnosis of CRE
  • Treatment and Control of CRE
  • Future Perspective: CRE
      • Future Perspectives: CRE
  • References

Additional Information

Level of instruction: Intermediate
 
Intended audience: Medical laboratory scientists, medical technologists, and technicians, This course is also appropriate for clinical laboratory science students and pathology residents.
 
Author information: Carolyn M. Law, PhD, MT(AMT) is the CEO of Celtic Labs Diagnostic Microbiology Services in Trinidad. She holds a PhD in Microbiology from National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
 
Author information: Catherine Dragoni, MT(ASCP)SM received her BS degree in medical technology from the State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse. She began her career as a bench microbiologist at Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine. Currently she is the Assistant Chief Technologist of Microbiology and Molecular Pathology at NorDx Laboratories, Scarborough, Maine.
 
Co-author information: Judi Bennett, MT, BSM is currently a Program Director for MediaLab, Inc. in Lawrenceville, Georgia. She has over 30 years of medical laboratory experience in an acute care hospital setting as a laboratory manager, senior clinical applications specialist, point-of-care coordinator, microbiology supervisor, and generalist technologist. Judi has experience speaking at various professional conferences and is the author of numerous peer-reviewed publications.  
 
Reviewer Information: Julie Ann West, PhD, is certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) and as a Specialist in Microbiology (SM). She has earned a PhD in Public Health - Infectious Disease Epidemiology - and is Certified in Public Health (CPH) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Dr. West is experienced as a Technical Specialist, Safety Officer, Educator, and Lead in the Veterans Administration Healthcare System, and has prior experience as an Administrative Laboratory Director.

How to Subscribe
MLS & MLT Comprehensive CE Package
Includes 176 CE courses, most popular
$109Add to cart
Pick Your Courses
Up to 8 CE hours
$55Add to cart
Individual course$25Add to cart
Need multiple seats for your university or lab? Get a quote
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