Location

Please check the individual session for location or broadcast availability.  

Frequency

Quarterly

Series Director

Eva Clark, MD, PhD, CTropMed

Series Co-Director

Jeffrey D. Whitman, MD, MS

Target Audience

Needs Statement

Although a large segment of the U.S. population is at risk for Chagas disease, many healthcare, public health, and community health workers do not receive systematic training about this parasitic infection and its epidemiology, transmission, risk factors, and clinical manifestations. This lack of training is especially concerning for residents of the Southern United States and for immigrants from continental Latin America, places inhabited by infected Triatominae vector species. Researchers advocate that at-risk children, women of reproductive age, and immunocompromised individuals in these populations should be prioritized for Chagas disease screening, and those who are infected should be treated to reduce the possibility of severe sequelae. This case conference aims to advance learner knowledge about the evidence-based recommendations for Chagas disease diagnosis and management, monitoring of treatment side effects, and implementation of strategies for screening and prevention. The overall goals are to enhance the quality of care for patients with Chagas disease in the United States and to improve patient outcomes by reducing disease-related morbidity and mortality.

Educational Methods

Educational methods will include lectures, case presentations, and panel discussion.

Objectives

At the conclusion of the sessions, the participants should be able to:

• Describe the epidemiology, transmission routes, and clinical manifestations of Chagas disease.
• Explain the importance of screening and testing at-risk populations for Chagas disease, including the rationale for maternal and congenital screening to prevent vertical transmission.
• Screen and identify patients at risk for Chagas disease by applying evidence-based protocols for risk assessment and confirmatory testing and making appropriate referrals.
• Implement current recommendations for the management and follow-up of patients with Chagas disease, including monitoring for complications and treatment side effects.
• Recognize the public health implications of Chagas disease and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to improve patient outcomes and reduce the overall disease burden.

Evaluation

Participants may be asked to complete a session evaluation.

Accreditation/Credit Designation

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Series Coordinator