Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing to optimize bacteremia treatment
May 12, 2025 - 14:00 BST / 15:00 CEST / 9:00 EDT / 6:00 PDT
Bacteremia, the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, can lead to severe complications if not promptly diagnosed and treated. Despite advances in diagnostic methods and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), mortality and morbidity rates for patients with bloodstream infections remain high. Rapid AST is crucial for optimizing treatment decisions and combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), yet delays in reporting positive blood cultures continue to impact patient outcomes.
In this webinar, Dr. Jerina Boelens, Medical Department Head, Clinical Biologist, University of Ghent, will explore the latest innovations in rapid AST and discuss strategies to enhance communication for faster, more effective clinical interventions. She will also provide an update on recent developments aimed at accelerating reporting processes, ensuring that healthcare professionals can act swiftly to improve patient care and combat AMR.
Key learning objectives
- Tips and tricks to speed up the diagnostic work-up of positive blood cultures
- Optimization of antimicrobial therapy through effective communication
Who should attend?
Clinical microbiologists, infectious disease physicians and pharmacists, clinical laboratory scientists, and antimicrobial stewardship committee members.
Certificate of attendance
All webinar participants can request a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary, for continuing education purposes.
If you view the on-demand webinar, you can request a certificate of attendance by emailing editor@selectscience.net.
Speakers
Dr. Jerina Boelens earned a Master of Medicine from Ghent University in 2003, followed by a specialization in Clinical Biology in 2010 and a Doctorate in Medical Sciences in 2013. Furthering her expertise in infection prevention, she completed additional training at Ghent University in 2014. Since 2011, she has been a staff member in Medical Microbiology at Ghent University Hospital and, since 2016, a part-time lecturer in Microbiology at Ghent University. In 2020, she became vice-chair of Ghent University Hospital's Antibiotic Policy Group. Her research focuses on antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial stewardship, and mycology. She actively contributes to several expert committees and professional societies in microbiology and public health.
Moderator
