COVID-19 PrEP in Immunocompromised Patients: Prevention Better Than Cure?

Overview

Provider Statement

This continuing medical education activity is provided by

Support Statement

This activity is supported by an educational grant from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

Activity Description

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a health care crisis with widespread global morbidity and mortality, spurring unprecedented levels of research for effective treatment and prevention strategies. Immunocompromised individuals are at increased risk for breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection, high symptomatic burden, and progression to severe COVID-19. Additionally, immune suppression due to certain medical conditions or therapies may limit the ability to mount a sufficient immune response with vaccination. Disease prevention is therefore of great importance in this patient population. In this educational activity, faculty in immunology and infectious diseases outline the rationale for using COVID-19 preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) therapy in immunocompromised patients, reviewing the latest clinical evidence on its safety and efficacy. Experts will provide guidance for identifying patients who may benefit from COVID-19 PrEP and summarize strategies to educate patients and practitioners on the outpatient management of COVID-19 in this vulnerable group.

Target Audience

The intended audience for this activity is pulmonologists, hospitalists, critical care physicians, intensivists, rheumatologists, immunologists, infectious disease specialists, and other health care professionals involved in the management of patients with or at risk for COVID-19.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Describe the rationale for the use of COVID-19 preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) therapy in immunocompromised patients, including the latest clinical evidence on its safety and efficacy.
• Identify patients who may benefit from COVID-19 PrEP therapy.
• Summarize strategies to educate patients and practitioners on the outpatient management of COVID-19 in immunocompromised individuals.

Activity Chair

Leonard H. Calabrese, DO
Professor of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
R.J. Fasenmyer Chair of Clinical Immunology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH

Faculty

Myron Cohen, MD
Yeargan-Bate Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Epidemiology
Associate Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs
Global Health Director, Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases
UNC School of Medicine
Division of Infectious Disease
Chapel Hill, NC

Myron Levin, MD
Professor, Pediatrics - Infectious Diseases
Associate Director, Pediatric HIV Clinic
University of Colorado
School of Medicine
Aurora, CO

Reviewer

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP

Accreditation

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

Credit Designation

Vindico Medical Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, December 15, 2022, to September 15, 2023.

How to Participate in This Activity and Obtain CE Credit

To participate in this activity, you must read the objectives, answer the polling and pretest questions, view the content, and complete the posttest and evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 2 of 3 of the posttest questions correctly. Upon receipt of the completed materials, if a satisfactory score on the posttest is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue an AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Certificate.

Disclosures

Vindico Medical Education adheres to the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s (ACCME) Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Activity Chair reports the following relationship(s)

Leonard H. Calabrese, DO
Consultant: GlaxoSmithKline
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: AstraZeneca

Faculty report the following relationship(s)

Myron Cohen, MD
Advisor: AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline
Consultant: Atea, Aerium

Myron Levin, MD
Consultant: AstraZeneca
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: AstraZeneca

Reviewer reports the following relationship(s)

Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Vindico Medical Education staff report the following relationship(s)

No relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Signed disclosures are on file at Vindico Medical Education, Office of Medical Affairs and Compliance.

Unlabeled and Investigational Usage

The audience is advised that this continuing medical education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage. All activity participants will be informed if any speakers/authors intend to discuss either non–FDA-approved or investigational use of products/devices.

Copyright Statement

Created and published by Vindico Medical Education, 6900 Grove Road, Building 100, Thorofare, NJ 08086-9447. Telephone: 856-994-9400; Fax: 856-384-6680. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2022 Vindico Medical Education. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The material presented at or in any of Vindico Medical Education continuing medical education activities does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education. Neither Vindico Medical Education nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/authors may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.

CME Questions?

Contact us at cme@vindicoCME.com