Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is a chronic infectious condition most frequently caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). NTM infections are becoming more common; the incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterium infections with Mycobacterium avium complex (NTM-MAC) has increased dramatically in recent decades, with 5-year survival similar to that of patients with lung cancer. Challenges of NTM-MAC include nonspecific symptoms and radiological findings that overlap with other pulmonary diseases, complicating and often delaying diagnosis — roughly two-thirds of patients have moderate to severe disease upon diagnosis.
Treatment options are limited, but FDA approval of new therapies widened clinicians’ arsenal and prompted updated guidance in 2020.
To update pulmonologists and infectious disease specialists on the latest guidance for diagnosing and managing NTM-MAC, Rockpointe and the Potomac Center for Medical Education offer a free CME/ABIM MOC/MIPS program to be presented in a series of live webinars accredited for continuing medical education at hospital grand rounds and Infectious Diseases Society of America state and regional meetings. For clinicians who are unable to attend one of the live webinars, the activity will also be available on demand as a webcourse until April 15, 2023.
Until 2018, patients with progressive disease had little recourse beyond treatment with conventional antibiotics. However, FDA approval of amikacin liposome inhalation suspension (ALIS) for patients with MAC who do not achieve a negative sputum culture after a minimum of six consecutive months of a multidrug background regimen therapy represented a much-needed option for those patients with refractory MAC. This development also led to an update of NTM-MAC consensus recommendations with the publishing of the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society/European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines in 2020.
Mycobacterium avium complex: Guideline-based Management for a Deadly and Increasingly Prevalent Disease is an hour-long program geared toward pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists, and other clinicians who manage patients with NTM-MAC infections. The activity features expert-led discussions of guideline-based diagnosis and treatment of NTM to improve clinician skill in identifying early clinical signs of NTM-MAC, diagnosis, treatment selection, and effective communication with patients regarding NTM-MAC management.
At the program’s conclusion, participants should be able to:
- Identify clinical features that raise the suspicion of NTM pulmonary disease.
- Diagnose NTM-MAC based on current evidence-based diagnostic criteria.
- Evaluate the safety and efficacy of newer guideline-recommended therapies for NTM-MAC.
- Integrate guideline-based MAC therapies into treatment regimens based on current evidence.
- Communicate effectively with patients regarding NTM treatment selection, expectations of treatment, side effects, monitoring strategies, and treatment adherence.
Dates and times for grand rounds sessions:
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
12:00 – 1:00 PM CT (1:00 – 2:00 PM ET/ 10:00 – 11:00 AM PT)
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
12:00 – 1:00 PM CT (1:00 – 2:00 PM ET/ 10:00 – 11:00 AM PT)
Friday, May 6, 2022
12:15 – 1:15 PM ET (11:15 – 12:15 PM CT/ 9:15 – 10:15 AM PT)
Wednesday, May 10, 2022
7:00 – 8:00 AM ET (6:00 – 7:00 AM CT / 4:00 – 5:00 AM PT)
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
12:00 – 1:00 PM ET (11:00 – 12:00 PM CT/ 9:00 – 10:00 AM PT)
Thursday, May 26, 2022
12:00 – 1:00 PM ET (11:00 – 12:00 PM CT/ 9:00 – 10:00 AM PT)
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
12:00 – 1:00 PM ET (11:00 – 12:00 PM CT / 9:00 – 10:00 AM PT)
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
12:00 – 1:00 PM ET (11:00 – 12:00 PM CT/ 9:00 – 10:00 AM PT)
Dates and times for state and regional society meeting sessions:
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
6:30 – 7:30 PM PT (8:30 – 9:30 PM CT / 9:30 – 10:30 PM ET)
Thursday, August 18, 2022
5:00 – 6:00 PM PT (7:00 – 8:00 PM CT / 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET)
This program is CME-certified and ABIM MOC and MIPS-eligible and qualifies the participant for 1 hour of credit. There is no fee for this activity, which is supported by an educational grant from Insmed and is jointly provided by the Potomac Center for Medical Education (PCME) and Rockpointe. Full accreditation information will be provided to participants prior to starting the course.
Through effective accredited continuing medical education, Rockpointe, a leader in educational programming with more than 26 years of experience, strives to improve and advance the quality of patient care. Its educational programs have been at the forefront of new issues in healthcare, including implementing MIPS, combatting the nation’s opioid and COVID-19 crises, recognizing issues with vaping, and utilizing technical advances in care. Sign up for Rockpointe’s CME course catalog and view a list of current educational opportunities, including on-demand webcourse offerings and live webinars, at www.rockpointe.com.
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