Webinars

As SARS-CoV-2 infections continue to ebb and flow, other respiratory viruses have made a big global comeback. We saw an early and large spike in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases and are in the midst of the worst influenza outbreak in nearly a decade. Even before the Northern Hemisphere flu season, influenza cases began trending well above the average of the past three years, starting in Spring 2022. Other lesser known causes of respiratory illness such as enterovirus and adenovirus have also caused outbreaks during the past year, some with additional uncommon but serious non-respiratory impacts such as acute flaccid paralysis. This webinar will examine the current trends and possible causes of the resurgence of respiratory infections in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Learning Objectives:
-Understand the current trends in respiratory illness in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic

-Review the theory of viral interference and other factors that may be shaping the resurgence of respiratory viruses

-Discuss why detecting and differentiating respiratory pathogens is important for treatment and isolation strategies

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common human herpesviruses, infecting nearly half of the adult population in the US. Vertical transmission can occur during pregnancy, and congenital CMV infections affect more children each year than all of the common conditions tested for during newborn screening combined. Congenital CMV infection is estimated to occur in 1 out of every 200 births in the US and is the leading cause of non-genetic sensorineural hearing loss and neurodevelopmental abnormalities in infants, and yet public awareness remains low. Though most infants born with congenital CMV infection will appear healthy at birth, about 10% will present with a range of symptoms and complications at birth, and many more will experience delayed onset of sequelae. Early detection of congenital CMV infection is critical for timely clinical intervention, including treatment with antiviral medications, which may lessen the severity of the hearing and developmental impairments associated with this infection.

This seminar will shed light on the prevalence, epidemiology, and clinical presentation associated with congenital CMV infections, test methods for diagnosis, and universal versus targeted screening approaches.

This workshop will highlight the benefits of molecular testing for common human herpes viruses.

Dr. Preeti Pancholi will discuss targeted testing for HSV & VZV using cerebrospinal fluid and swab specimens.

LINK TO THE VIDEO

Dr. Megan Pesch will provide an introduction to congenital CMV infections including diagnosis, current guidelines for testing, and legislation.

LINK TO THE VIDEO

Speakers:

Preeti Pancholi, PhD D(ABMM)

Professor of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology

The Ohio State University, University Hospital East

—

Megan Honor Pesch, MD, MS

Assistant Professor

Director, Congenital CMV Developmental Follow-up Clinic

Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School

In an effort to contain the spread of multidrug resistant nosocomial infections with Candida auris (C. auris), the BayCare Laboratory and BayCare Infection Prevention departments developed a screening algorithm to identify patients colonized with C. auris.  Specifically patients admitted from Long Term Care facilities and those known to be exposed to other C. auris positive patients are tested by PCR and fungal culture. Patients are kept in isolation until the results of the test are known. Validation of the PCR assay followed CAP recommendations and included accuracy, sensitivity and specificity studies.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the impact of  aurisinfection in the healthcare system
• Review screening algorithms
• Discuss laboratory test validation
• Review results and lessons learned from the past 6 months of screening

Accurate and cost-effectiveness detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection is an essential component of efforts to treat patients and to contain spread of the virus in the community. Molecular and antigen tests are targeted for early diagnosis while immunoassays have a preeminent role in understanding longitudinal immunity, and in vaccine development and response. This symposium is presenting the current diagnostic modalities for SARS-CoV-2 through the contributions of international experts. A multiplicity of experiences in testing COVID-19 individuals and monitoring the immune response after natural infections or vaccination, outlining the appropriate use of the different diagnostic tools.

SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve and surveillance of variants is a necessity. Routine analysis of genetic sequence data allows the identification and characterization of variant viruses and aids in the investigation of how variants impact COVID-19 disease severity, the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments as well as diagnostic test accuracy. This webinar will discuss one laboratory’s approach to routine genomic surveillance for rapid identification of new mutations, and discuss the use of Simplexa^® SARS-CoV-2 Variants Direct (RUO)* as a tool to rapidly identify mutations associated with variants of interest and concern together with next generation sequencing.

Objectives include:

– Describe the concept of SARS-CoV-2 genetic mutation and how genetic variability could impact public health, medical initiatives, and diagnostic testing.

– Explore testing algorithms that could help identify variants with potential medical importance.

– List the major types of next generation sequencing platforms and compare and contrast test selection methods between NGS and multiplex real-time RT-PCR.