*This event has been cancelled in order to prevent any possible community spread of the COVID-19 illness*

2020 AST Conference

Presenters:

• Eric Beck, PhD, D(ABMM), Technical Director of Microbiology, ACL Laboratories
• Tim Block, BS, MT(ASCP), Laboratory Manager, Froedtert West Bend Hospital
• Mack Daeda, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist, Prairie Ridge Health
• Matthew Faron, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology, Medical College of WI
• Erik Munson, PhD, D(ABMM), Assistant Professor, College of Health Sciences, Marquette University
• Thomas Novicki, PhD, D(ABMM), Clinical Microbiologist, Marshfield Labs
• Raymond Podzorski, PhD, D(ABMM), Microbiology Director, St. Mary’s Hospital
• Carol Rauch, MD, AR Lab Network Technical Laboratory Liaison, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Alana Sterkel, PhD, D(ABMM), SM(ASCP)^CM, Assistant Director, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
• Sarah Stoner, MS, MB(ASCP)^CM, Microbiologist, Gundersen Health System

Description of Session:

The conference will focus on the challenges that laboratories face in performing quality antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and will provide guidance in meeting those challenges.  The conference will open with an overview of the real threat that antibiotic resistance poses to public health and what role the clinical labs have in combating this threat. This will be followed by a panel discussion on the role of antibiotic stewardship led by a clinical pharmacist and joined by clinical laboratorians and infection preventionists.  We will conclude the morning by comparing the various automated systems available for performing AST in contrast to some of the newer and novel rapid methods that have been or are being developed.  Following lunch, attendees will have the option to attend 2 of 3 breakout sessions on AST for mycobacteria and fungi; using the CLSI M100 and M45 documents; and antibiotic mechanisms of action. We will round out the day discussing antibiograms and end with a rousing game of Kahoot.

A certificate of participation will be granted to each participant who attends the conference based on 5.5 contact hours of instruction toward credit.

This program is co-sponsored by ASCLS-WI which is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E. program.

Please go to the ASCLS CE Organizer web site to print your P.A.C.E. certificate. You will be asked for a code number to print the certificate. Information for obtaining P.A.C.E credit will be provided at the conference and you must complete your application for credit within 30 days by May 30, 2020.

Materials:

• 2020 AST Conference – Brochure