This package includes the CE evaluations and CE credits for each individual podcast episode. You can register for the individual episode evaluations if you plan to complete fewer than three.
Forget everything you ever read in a textbook when it comes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and sepsis complications – because they rarely play by the rules. They evolve, adapt, and strike before it’s too late. While classic symptoms like fever, tachycardia, and hypotension are well known, the real challenge lies in recognizing the unexpected to reduce your mental list of those unknown, unknowns.
Hosted by Critical Care RN & CNS Author Nicole Kupchik, The Sepsis Spectrum is an exploration of real-world patient cases, expert insights, and clinical deep dives to unravel the most complex presentations facing modern medicine. Through gripping stories and in-depth interviews, Nicole examines diagnostic challenges, cutting-edge treatments, and the growing threat of AMR.
Designed for healthcare professionals at every level, The Sepsis Spectrum is about leaving you with more than compelling stories—it’s a vital resource in podcast form. Whether you’re at the bedside or in the classroom, you’ll finish each episode with practical, life-saving knowledge—and earn free CE Contact Hours for nurses along the way.
The fight against sepsis and AMR starts with recognition — because the most dangerous threats are the ones you don’t see coming.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the series, the learner should be able to:
Identify the public health threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and describe the relationship between infection prevention, AMR, and sepsis;
Assess the interconnections between humans, animals, and the environment in relation to AMR and sepsis;
Apply recommendations for recognizing, diagnosing, and treating AMR and sepsis in outpatient and pre-hospital settings;
Analyze the consequences of healthcare-acquired infections involving multi-drug-resistant organisms and discuss strategies for their prevention;
Describe the importance of multi-disciplinary collaboration among infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and sepsis teams in enhancing early detection, appropriate treatment, and improved outcomes in infectious disease management;
Explore innovations in AMR and sepsis diagnostics and treatments, with a focus on how they aim to personalize patient care;
Evaluate how quality improvement and patient safety practices address healthcare-acquired infections, multidrug-resistant organisms, and sepsis;
Implement best practices for care coordination and transitions of care discharge planning, with an emphasis on AMR and antimicrobial stewardship in post-sepsis patient care;
Consider specific care needs and best practices for managing AMR and sepsis in specialty populations, including pediatric, maternal, and immunocompromised patients.
Target audience:
All healthcare professionals and healthcare students including nurses, physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, infectious disease and prevention specialists, scientists, and researchers, sepsis coordinators, sepsis data & quality professionals, healthcare executives and leadership, nursing and medical school deans & faculty, professional healthcare organizations, healthcare advocates, government, and industry.
Episode 1 of The Sepsis Spectrum: Microbial Mysteries Podcast.
Unpack the critical links between infection, antimicrobial resistance, and sepsis with host Nicole Kupchik, and learn how together, they’re placing intense strain on public health systems, communities, and the broader social factors that shape health and well-being. Joined by sepsis and infection prevention leaders Pat Posa and Dr. Cindy Hou, this episode explores how preventing infections before they happen remains one of the most effective strategies to reduce AMR and decrease sepsis risk across all care settings—from hospitals to home-based care. Major global health events, like the COVID-19 pandemic, have dramatically reshaped the landscape, exposing weaknesses in infection control and accelerating AMR challenges. As these challenges grow, education and public awareness have become essential tools. Essential for clinicians, sepsis coordinators, infection preventionists, and anyone across the continuum of care focused on quality improvement and reducing patient harm.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the session, the learner should be able to:
Describe the interconnected burden of infection, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and sepsis on public health, population health, and social determinants of health
Describe how infection prevention serves as a critical strategy in sepsis prevention across the healthcare continuum
Analyze the impact of global health events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on antimicrobial resistance and sepsis outcomes
Identify the challenges healthcare professionals face in addressing sepsis, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and AMR
Restate the importance of education and awareness tools, such as podcasts, in bridging gaps in healthcare knowledge and promoting actionable change related to sepsis, AMR, and health equity.
Target Audience:
Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.
Guests:
Pat Posa RN, BSN, MSA, CCRN-K, FAAN
Quality and Patient Safety Program Manager
UH/CVC, Michigan Medicine
Pat Posa, RN, BSN, MSA, CCRN, FAAN, is the Quality and Safety Program Manager for the Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium (HMS) providing clinical oversight for the quality improvement work. She most recently was the Quality and Patient Safety Program Manager for the Adult Hospitals at Michigan Medicine. In her role, she was responsible for development, measurement, and sustainability of the Adult Hospitals’ Quality and Patient Safety program.
Pat has been involved in the development and implementation of sepsis programs in multiple hospitals, was faculty for the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, Sepsis on the Wards Collaborative, and was part of the team that worked with the CDC to develop the Core Elements for Hospital Sepsis Programs.
Cindy Hou, DO, MA, MBA, FACOI, FACP, FIDSA
Infection Control Officer and Medical Director of Research
Jefferson Health – New Jersey
Cindy Hou, DO, MA, MBA, CIC, CPHQ, CPPS, FACOI, FACP, FIDSA, FAPIC, is the Infection Control Officer and Medical Director of Research for Jefferson Health – New Jersey and an Infectious Diseases specialist. She has expertise in sepsis, antibiotic stewardship, infection control, patient safety, clinical quality, equity, and language access.
Dr. Hou is the Chief Medical Officer of Sepsis Alliance and a member of its Board of Directors. She earned her M.B.A. and M.A. from Boston University, a D.O. from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, and her B.S. from Yale University.
Dr. Hou is the principal investigator for an Office of Minority Health grant to reduce inequities in those with limited English proficiency. She is the co-editor of the book, “COVID-19 Viral Sepsis: Impact on Disparities, Disability, and Health Outcomes.”
Dr. Hou has a Certification in Infection Prevention and Control, is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, and is a Certified Professional in Patient Safety. Dr. Hou is a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists, American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
CE Information:
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 0.9 contact hours.
Other healthcare professionals will receive 0.75 participation contact hours for this episode.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.
Episode 2 of The Sepsis Spectrum: Microbial Mysteries Podcast.
Can standard sepsis protocols catch what the gut already knows? In this conversation, Nicole sits down with Dr. Laura Kahn to explore how the microbiome could transform our understanding of sepsis, antimicrobial resistance, and upstream prevention. They dive into One Health thinking, gut-brain signaling, dysbiosis as an early disease marker, and why your patient’s toilet might someday replace lab work. A provocative look at the limits of protocolized medicine and the potential power of microbial diagnostics.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the session, the learner should be able to:
Define the One Health concept;
Describe the relevance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within the One Health framework;
Identify key health challenges that arise at the interface of human, animal, and environmental health, including shared risks and solutions;
Evaluate how implementing One Health best practices contributes to combating AMR at local and global levels;
Analyze the role of One Health in the prevention, identification, and management of infections and sepsis across different populations and settings;
List practical strategies that can be applied within one’s own clinical practice, organization, or community to support One Health and mitigate the threat of AMR.
Target Audience:
Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.
Guest:
Laura Kahn, MD, MPH, MPP, FACP
Co-Founder
One Health Initiative
Laura H. Kahn, MD, MPH, MPP, FACP is a physician, policy researcher, educator, and author. For 17 years, she was a research scholar in the Program on Science and Global Security at Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University. Her education and training encompass nursing, medicine, public health, and public policy.
In April 2006, she published Confronting Zoonoses, Linking Human and Veterinary Medicine in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases which helped launch the One Health Initiative, a global movement promoting the health of all species by increasing communication and collaboration between human, animal, plant, environmental, and ecosystem health professionals.
Princeton University awarded her course, Hogs, Bats, and Ebola: An Introduction to One Health Policy, with a 250th Anniversary Fund for Innovation in Undergraduate Education. She converted the course into a free, online Coursera course, Bats, Ducks, and Pandemics: An Introduction to One Health Policy that enrolled over 9000 students from around the world from 2020 to 2023. It is now available on YouTube.
Dr. Kahn is the author of several books. The first, "Who's in Charge? Leadership during epidemics, bioterror attacks, and other public health crises", was originally published in 2009 by Praeger Security International. In 2020, a second edition was issued with a new preface discussing leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her second book, "One Health and the Politics of Antimicrobial Resistance", was published in June 2016 by Johns Hopkins University Press. Her third book, "One Health and the Politics of COVID-19", was published in October 2024 by Johns Hopkins University Press. She has written online columns for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and has published in many peer-reviewed journals.
A native of California, Dr. Kahn holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from UC Los Angeles, a doctorate in medicine from the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, a master's degree in public health from Columbia University and a master's degree in public policy from Princeton University. Dr. Kahn is a fellow of the American College of Physicians. In 2007, the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Physicians awarded her with their highest honor, the Laureate Award. In 2014, the American Association of Public Health Physicians awarded her with a Presidential Award for Meritorious Service, and in 2016, the American Veterinary Epidemiology Society (AVES) awarded her with their highest honor for her work in One Health: the K.F. Meyer-James H. Steele Gold Head Cane Award.
CE Information:
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 0.9 contact hours.
Other healthcare professionals will receive 0.75 participation contact hours for this session.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.
Episode 3 of The Sepsis Spectrum: Microbial Mysteries Podcast.
Can pre-hospital teams catch sepsis before the hospital even sees it coming? Nicole sits down with EMS thought leader Eric Bauer to break down how tools like capnography, lactate testing, and passive leg raise are transforming early sepsis care. They dig into why respiratory rate matters more than we think, what end-tidal CO₂ can really tell us, and why protocols don’t have to mean tunnel vision. It’s a smart, field-tested look at sepsis, before the IV even starts.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the episode, the learner should be able to:
Identify key clinical signs and risk factors for recognizing infection and sepsis in pre-hospital settings, including outpatient and EMS environments;
Evaluate the role and limitations of point-of-care diagnostics and treatment modalities in supporting early sepsis recognition and antimicrobial decision-making in pre-hospital care;
Analyze the implications of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the pre-hospital setting and how emergency and transport personnel can contribute to antimicrobial stewardship;
Compare the challenges and clinical priorities across different pre-hospital care contexts—including 911 emergency response, interfacility transport, and post-discharge patient handoffs—to improve communication and care continuity for patients with suspected infections.
Target Audience:
Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.
Guest:
Eric Bauer, MBA, FP-C, CCP-C
Executive Director
FlightBridgeED
Eric Bauer, MBA, FP-C, CCP-C, is the guiding force behind FlightBridgeED, LLC. As CEO, he humbly brings over three decades of experience in Emergency Medical Services (EMS). His journey, especially in the Helicopter EMS (HEMS) space over the last 20 years, has been a path of quiet dedication. Eric has authored two best-selling books and delivered 90 national/international lectures and speaking engagements on emergency medical and critical care, hoping to shed light on complex topics for audiences worldwide.
Eric's voice reaches many through his writing and his podcast, which has been downloaded over 6 million times. His efforts have been acknowledged with a few industry awards, like the 2017 EMSWORLD Innovation Award for his work on ventilator management and the 2018 John Jordan Award for Excellence from the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association. In a unique honor, he was named an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Air & Surface Transport Nurses, marking a special moment as the first paramedic accorded this honor. Other recognitions include the 2023 NAEMT/JONES & Bartlett Learning Public Safety Group EMS Educator of the Year and the 2024 recipient of the Tim Hynes Award by the International College of Advanced Practice Paramedics.
Eric focuses on improving education and practices in EMS and critical care, striving to make a lasting, positive impact in the field.
CE Information:
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 0.6 contact hours.
Other healthcare professionals will receive 0.5 participation contact hours for this session.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.
Episode 4 of The Sepsis Spectrum: Microbial Mysteries Podcast.
Hospital-onset sepsis presents a complex and urgent challenge at the intersection of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and clinical decision-making. Nicole welcomes Dr. Jennifer Gienstra and Dr. Emi Minejima to examine how HAIs contribute to both AMR and the development of sepsis within hospital settings—and why these cases often carry higher risks and worse outcomes. Together they'll explore key insights from recent literature, including the need for clearer definitions, refined metrics, and improved alignment with antimicrobial stewardship efforts. They will also dive into how diagnostic uncertainty, delayed recognition, and treatment hesitations can turn manageable infections into life-threatening events.
Learning Objective:
At the end of the session, the learner should be able to:
Describe the epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and how they contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the development of hospital-onset sepsis (HOS)
Analyze the key findings from the June 2024 CHEST publication on HOS and it’s relevance to infection control and antimicrobial stewardship strategies;
Evaluate the clinical implications of diagnostic and treatment delays, such as delayed rapid response activation or antibiotic administration in the progression of HAIs and HOS
Describe how to identify risk factors, interpret clinical data, and propose evidence-based interventions including antimicrobial stewardship for a clinical scenario involving HAIs, multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and HOS.
List best practices to prevent, identify, and manage HAIs, MDROS, and HOS across different roles and while leveraging Antimicrobial Stewardship principles within the healthcare continuum.
Target Audience:
Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.
Guests:
Jennifer Gienstra, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Sciences & Critical Care Medicine
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
Jennifer Ginestra, MD, MS received her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2015, and completed her internal medicine residency training and pulmonary and critical care fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. During her time at Penn she obtained a Masters in health policy and patient outcomes research, and was a fellow in the Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Safety. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine. She practices as an intensivist in the medical ICU at the University of Colorado Hospital, and is also health services researcher with funding from the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute. Her research aims to identify ways to improve care delivery and outcomes for patients who develop sepsis and respiratory failure in the hospital.
Emi Minejima, PharmD
Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy
Emi Minejima, PharmD, received her degree from University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy in 2005 and completed both her residency training in pharmacy practice and infectious diseases pharmacotherapy at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Ca. After residency, she joined the faculty at the USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences where she is currently an Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy. Her clinical practice is based at Los Angeles General Medical Center where she helps run the antimicrobial stewardship program and is the director for PGY2 infectious diseases pharmacy residency program. Her research interests include S. aureus infections and optimizing the use of antibiotics to improve care for the medically underserved population.
CE Information:
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 0.6 contact hours.
Other healthcare professionals will receive 0.5 participation contact hours for this episode.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.
Episode 5 of The Sepsis Spectrum: Microbial Mysteries Podcast.
What if the way we’re trained to recognize sepsis is part of the problem? Nicole sits down with Kathleen Vollman to unpack how clinician education, documentation habits, and broken workflows contribute to missed or delayed sepsis care. They explore why early signs like low temperature and increased respiratory rate are often ignored, how task-based thinking limits critical assessment, and what it takes to teach sepsis recognition that actually works. A must-listen for anyone leading bedside care, clinical education, or system improvement.
Learning Objective:
At the end of the session, the learner should be able to:
Explain the clinical significance of early recognition of infection and sepsis;
Discuss appropriate initial assessment steps and escalation protocols for suspected sepsis cases.
Interpret common laboratory and diagnostic results to help determine the likely causative pathogen.
Explain the importance of multi-disciplinary collaboration among infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and sepsis teams in enhancing early detection, appropriate treatment, and improved outcomes in infectious disease management.
Describe how early recognition of infection and sepsis facilitates timely involvement of the antimicrobial stewardship team, leading to more appropriate antimicrobial selection and duration, thereby reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance.
Target Audience:
Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.
Guests:
Kathleen Vollman, MSN, RN, CCNS, FCCM, FAAN
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Consultant, Educator, & Entrepreneur President
ADVANCING NURSING, LLC
Kathleen Vollman, MSN, RN, CCNS, FCCM, FAAN is a Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist and Consultant. She has published & lectured nationally and internationally on a variety of pulmonary, critical care, prevention of health care acquired injuries including pressure injury and CAUTI/CLABSI’s and other HAI’s, work culture and sepsis recognition & management She serves as a subject matter expert on these topics for the American Hospital Association and Michigan Hospital Association. From 1989 to 2003 she functioned in the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Medical ICU’s at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit Michigan. Currently her company, ADVANCING NURSING LLC, is focused on creating empowered work environments for healthcare practitioners through the acquisition of better skills, attainment of greater knowledge, and implementation of process improvement.
CE Information:
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 0.6 contact hours.
Other healthcare professionals will receive 0.5 participation contact hours for this episode.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.
Episode 6 of The Sepsis Spectrum: Microbial Mysteries Podcast.
How can we diagnose what we haven’t yet defined? Nicole welcomes Dr. Shamim Nemati and Dr. Gabriel Wardi to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping sepsis detection. They dig into why existing definitions fall short, how data-driven tools can outperform traditional alerts, and where AI could take us next, from smarter antimicrobial stewardship to real-time clinical support. A conversation for anyone rethinking how we recognize and respond to sepsis.
Learning Objective:
At the end of the session, the learner should be able to:
Differentiate between artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), clinical decision support (CDS), and best practice alerts within the context of infectious diseases and sepsis care;
Evaluate current research and innovations in AI/ML applications that aim to address clinical practice gaps in infection prevention, early recognition, diagnostics/pathogen identification, early management and sepsis and antimicrobial resistance;
Analyze the practical roles of AI/ML technologies across the patient care continuum, including pathogen identification, treatment optimization, communication strategies, and clinician and patient education;
List actionable insights and strategies related to AI/ML that clinicians and healthcare professionals can apply to enhance diagnostic accuracy, antimicrobial stewardship, and personalized care in their own practice or organization.
Target Audience:
Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.
Guests:
Shamim Nemati, PhD
Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics,
UCSD Health
Shamim Nemati’s work is focused on utilizing large-scale multimodal datasets from electronic health records and wearable sensor technology, paired with cutting-edge machine learning techniques, to improve patient experience and outcomes across the continuum of care. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT in 2013, followed by two years of postdoctoral fellowship at the Harvard Intelligent Probabilistic Systems group. He is currently the Director of Predictive Health Analytics at UC San Diego (UCSD) Health and an Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics at UCSD where he leads an NIH-funded critical care informatics research group. He has published in several areas of research, including advanced signal processing and machine learning techniques, computational neuroscience/brain-machine interface, and predictive monitoring in hospitalized patients, resulting in over 100 peer-reviewed publications.
Gabriel Wardi, MD, MPH, FACEP
Associate Professor & Chief, Division of Emergency Critical Care
Department of Emergency Medicine
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
University of California, San Diego
Gabriel Wardi, MD, MPH, FACEP, is a board-certified emergency physician cross-trained in internal medicine and critical care at the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), where he is also an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. He is the founding Chief of the Division of Emergency Critical Care within the Department of Emergency Medicine
The major focus of his career has been on improving the diagnosis and outcomes of sepsis patients. He is the Medical Director of Hospital Sepsis at UC San Diego, a position he has had since 2018. In this role, he has overseen a 40% drop in sepsis mortality. He has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to investigate novel approaches to improve care of patients with sepsis through big data and machine-learning approaches. Dr. Wardi has been selected by his peers as a "Top Doctor" in San Diego multiple times.
Dr. Wardi has over 160 peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, and book chapters published focusing on care of patients with sepsis and novel approaches using AI in medicine to improve patient-centered outcomes.
CE Information:
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 0.6 contact hours.
Other healthcare professionals will receive 0.5 participation contact hours for this episode.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.
Episode 7 of The Sepsis Spectrum: Microbial Mysteries Podcast.
Sometimes what we call prevention is really just harm repackaged. Nicole, Dr. Hudson Garrett, and Armando Nahum dig into the paradoxes of infection control, where well-meaning efforts can produce unseen consequences. They explore the culture of blame, AMR and sepsis awareness pitfalls, and the need to refocus on patient experience. A provocative discussion for infection preventionists and frontline clinicians and leaders alike.
Learning Objective:
At the end of the session, the learner should be able to:
Describe the role of quality improvement (QI) initiatives in enhancing patient safety in the early recognition and management of sepsis, healthcare-associated infections (HAI), and antimicrobial resistance (AMR);
Identify common gaps and safety concerns in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis and HAIs, including misdiagnosis, treatment delays, and inappropriate antibiotic use;
Evaluate the significance of antimicrobial stewardship programs as a core component of QI and patient safety strategies within healthcare systems;
Describe the function of interdisciplinary teams, evidence-based protocols, patient and family advisory councils, and healthcare technologies in reducing infection and sepsis-related harm and improving outcomes.
Target Audience:
Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Hudson Garrett Group
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases; University of Louisville School of Medicine
Dr. Hudson Garrett is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He holds a Graduate Certificate in Infection Prevention and Infection Control from the University of South Florida. He has completed the Johns Hopkins Fellows Program in Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control. He is a Fellow, the American Academy of Project Management, and a Senior Fellow and Ambassador of the Management and Strategy Institute. In 2019, he was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow and Practitioner in the National Academies of Practices. Dr. Garrett was recently selected as 1 of 20 healthcare leaders globally to participate in the 2021 13-month Global Patient Safety Fellowship with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and is a graduate of the IHI Patient Safety Executive Development Program. Dr. Garrett has been awarded the Fellowship Designation by both the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He holds graduate certificates in healthcare leadership from both Cornell and the University of Notre Dame. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, the Royal Society of Public Health, the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, and the American College of the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals. He serves as the lead faculty member for the Medical Device Safety, Infection Control Specialist, and Advanced Medical Device Safety and Risk Management Certificate Programs for the AHVAP Certification Center.
He is a frequent international lecturer in the areas of infectious diseases, healthcare associated infections, outbreak response and prevention, vascular access, patient safety, healthcare quality and risk management, medical device-related infections and outbreaks, endoscope safety, and infection prevention and control. He holds Board Certifications in Patient Safety, Healthcare Quality, Healthcare Risk Management, Legal Nurse Consulting, Medical and Clinical Affairs, Patient Experience, Vascular Access, Antibiotic Stewardship, Infection Control, Long-Term Care Infection Control, Dental Infection Control, Designated Infection Control Officer, Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing, Critical Care Fundamentals, Ambulatory Infection Prevention, Healthcare Value Analysis, and in Healthcare Management.
He has served on international and national organizational boards in the areas of healthcare environmental services, dental infection control, infection control, acute care infection control, post-acute care infection control, healthcare value analysis, infusion nursing, and vascular access. He has served on expert panels related to disinfection and sterilization with the United States Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency, most notably serving on the FDA’s Panel and Working Group for Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing. Dr. Garrett led and completed the first FDA 522 Study on Duodenoscopes evaluating human factors elements of instructions for use and microbiological contamination of flexible duodenoscopes. He presented these results to the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other clinical partner organizations globally. He is a member of the Network of Experts for the US Food and Drug Administration. He currently is the Chairperson for the new national Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses Infection Prevention National Task Force and serves as a member of the National Guidelines Advisory Board for AORN. Dr. Garrett has lectured around the world and provided testimony to government and regulatory agencies on a variety of topics related to infectious diseases and infection prevention and control.
Armando Nahum
Co-Founder and CEO
Safe Care Campaign
Armando has co-produced, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), APIC, and a grant from Kimberly-Clark, a patient safety video – the health care counterpart to the FAA safety demonstration that airlines are required to show passengers before every flight. The video was created to be used as part of every hospital admission to teach patients how to insist on safe care through the practice of hand hygiene.
Armando currently sits on the CDC Council on Infection Prevention, the Georgia Hospital Association Advisory Board to Prevent Infection, and the Georgia Department of Public Health HAI Advisory Committee.
Along with his wife Victoria, Marty Hatlie, and Dr. Tim McDonald, Armando has launched the Healthcare and Patient Partnership Institute (H2Pi) to effectively train Hospitals to achieve the stated goals of CMS’ Partnership for Patients by bringing the Patient and Family members’ voice into structured and sustainable Advisory Councils.
Armando has been a driving force in establishing the Patient and Family Advisory Council for Quality and Safety (PFACQS®️) at each of the 10 MedStar Hospitals, as well as countless PFACs across the country through a partnership with Vizient, Inc.
Armando is the Patient and Family Advisor for MedStar Health Sepsis System Initiative. Through his work, he has been instrumental in passing legislation in Maryland, producing a Sepsis video for Patients and Families education, reducing mortality to 35%, and winning the Sherman Award and the Circle of Honor for Patient Safety Innovation from the Maryland Patient Safety Center. The MedStar Health Sepsis Initiative has become a national model being adopted by institutions across the U.S.
Armando is a founding member of Patients for Patient Safety US (PFPS US), a network of dedicated individuals and organizations united in their mission to enhance the safety of healthcare in the United States. This initiative is spearheaded by individuals who have personally experienced the impact of medical errors, either as patients themselves or through their loved ones. Drawing from these deeply personal experiences, we are motivated and determined to champion our priorities, advocate for systemic changes, and foster an environment where patient safety is paramount. Together, we strive to create a healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of every individual.
CE Information:
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 0.6 contact hours.
Other healthcare professionals will receive 0.5 participation contact hours for this episode.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.
Episode 8 of The Sepsis Spectrum: Microbial Mysteries Podcast.
When crisis hits every layer of care, how do you keep patients human? Nicole is joined by Dr. Mark Mikkelsen and sepsis survivor Katy Grainger for a raw and powerful conversation for a raw and powerful conversation on how sepsis survival is only the beginning of a long and often difficult journey. This episode takes a closer look at the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that many sepsis survivors face after leaving the hospital—struggles that can persist for months or even years. They'll examine current discharge and follow-up practices and envision a more connected, survivor-centered model of post-sepsis care; one that recognizes how AMR and readmission can complicate recovery, and how personalized recovery planning can make all the difference.
Learning Objective:
At the end of the session, the learner should be able to:
Identify common physical, psychological, and cognitive burdens experienced by sepsis survivors;
Describe how antimicrobial resistance (AMR) concerns affect patient outcomes after discharge;
Assess the adequacy of current discharge protocols and follow-up practices in addressing the needs of sepsis survivors;
Describe a coordinated care plan that incorporates post-sepsis patient education, follow-up care, and future AMR considerations.
Target Audience:
Nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, emergency responders, pharmacists, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, physical/occupational therapists, infection prevention specialists, data/quality specialists, and more.
Guests:
Mark E. Mikkelsen, MD, MSCE, FCCM
Associate Chief Medical Officer, Critical Care
University of Colorado Hospital
Mark E. Mikkelsen, MD, MSCE, FCCM is the Associate Chief Medical Officer for Critical Care at the University of Colorado Hospital. Dr. Mikkelsen served as the Co-Chair of the Society of Critical Care Medicine's Thrive: Supporting Survivors of Critical Illness Initiative for 6 years. He has partnered with CMS and state hospital and healthcare associations to improve care coordination and reduce hospital readmissions for sepsis survivors.
Katy Grainger
Sepsis Survivor and Patient Advocate
Katy is a sepsis survivor serving on the Board of Directors of Sepsis Alliance since 2020. In September of 2018, while living in Hawaii, she became ill with what she thought was the flu. She was home alone at the time, but texted a friend 36 hours after symptoms began saying she had never been so sick and needed to go to the hospital. When she was admitted into the ER, her physicians suspected septic shock and began a protocol that saved her life. Unfortunately, Katy ended up losing both of her lower legs and seven fingertips due to circulatory complications caused by the sepsis.
CE Information:
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP17068 for 0.6 contact hours.
Other healthcare professionals will receive 0.5 participation contact hours for this episode.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information on or available through this site is intended for educational purposes only. Sepsis Alliance does not represent or guarantee that information on or available through this site is applicable to any specific patient’s care or treatment. The educational content on or available through this site does not constitute medical advice from a physician and is not to be used as a substitute for treatment or advice from a practicing physician or other healthcare professional. Sepsis Alliance recommends users consult their physician or healthcare professional regarding any questions about whether the information on or available through this site might apply to their individual treatment or care.
