April 1, 2009

April 1, 2010

1.0 Hours

Internet

Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute infectious gastroenteritis in children and is associated with substantial morbidity in the United States and morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Two orally administered vaccines, a live bovine reassortant vaccine (RV5; licensed in 2006) and a live attenuated human vaccine (RV1; licensed in 2008), are now being employed in a universal infant vaccination program in the United States. There is already ecological evidence and data from post-licensure effectiveness studies that this program will be an unequivocal success in reducing the impact of rotavirus disease. This overview presents the structure, pathogenesis, and mechanisms of natural immunity to rotavirus, key concepts in understanding the rationale behind vaccine-induced protection. The history of rotavirus vaccine development is also included, along with a discussion of the safety, efficacy, and recommended use of the approved vaccines.

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, nurses, and physician assistants who wish to learn about vaccination strategies for the prevention of rotavirus.

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

1. Outline the epidemiology of rotavirus infection, including transmission, seasonality, and year-to-year serotype variation.
2. Calculate rotavirus disease burden in the United States, including outpatient episodes of gastroenteritis and hospitalizations for dehydration.
3. Compare and contrast available rotavirus vaccines.
4. Summarize the ACIP recommendations for rotavirus vaccination.

Gary S. Marshall, MD
Chief, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Kosair Children’s Hospital
Professor of Pediatrics
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Louisville, KY

Course Director:
Stephen Pelton, MD
Chief, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Boston Medical Center
Professor of Pediatrics
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, MA

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Boston University School of Medicine and Med Learning Group. Boston University School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

COURSE CODE: E.ROTAMLGM08

Boston University School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

For CME questions, please contact BUSM CME at 617.638.4605.

For BUSM Privacy Policy: http://www.bu.edu/cme/policies/privacy_policy.html

For BUSM CME Information: Email: cme@bu.edu; Website: http://www.bu.edu/cme

There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period April 1, 2009 through April 1, 2010, participants must:

1. Read the educational objectives and faculty disclosures
2. Study all parts of the educational activity
3. Complete the posttest by recording the best answer to each question in the answer key on the evaluation form.
4. Submit the evaluation form online via iQueue

To participate in this activity, please view the presentation and take the posttest. Fill in the answer sheet and evaluation form and submit online via iQueue. CME credit will be awarded if a score of 70% or better is achieved. You will receive your certificate instantly.

Boston University School of Medicine asks all individuals involved in the development and presentation of Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities to disclose all relationships with commercial interests. This information is disclosed to CME activity participants. Boston University School of Medicine has procedures to resolve apparent conflicts of interest. In addition, faculty members are asked to disclose when any discussion of unapproved use of pharmaceuticals and devices is being discussed.

Gary S. Marshall, MD
Grant/Research Support: GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Inc, Novartis, and sanofi pasteur
Ad-hoc Consultant: GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Inc, Novartis, and sanofi pasteur
Speaker’s Bureau: for GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Inc., and sanofi pasteur
CME Activity Support: GlaxoSmithKline, MedImmune, Inc., and Merck & Co., Inc.

Stephen Pelton, MD
Grant/Research Support: GlaxoSmithKline and Wyeth
Consultant: GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, and Wyeth
Speaker’s Bureau: sanofi pasteur and MedImmune, Inc.

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Elizabeth Gifford of Boston University School of Medicine has nothing to disclose.

Tara Hun-Dorris, MMC, ELS
Consultant: Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Victory Pharma

Kelly Kraines of Med Learning Group has nothing to disclose.

Unlabeled/investigational uses of commercial products will be discussed in this activity.

THESE MATERIALS AND ALL OTHER MATERIALS PROVIDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES ARE INTENDED SOLELY FOR PURPOSES OF SUPPLEMENTING CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. ANYONE USING THE MATERIALS ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND ALL RISK FOR THEIR APPROPRIATE USE. TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY MAKE NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS WHATSOEVER REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, CURRENTNESS, NONINFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THE MATERIALS. IN NO EVENT WILL TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY BE LIABLE TO ANYONE FOR ANY DECISION MADE OR ACTION TAKEN IN RELIANCE ON THE MATERIALS. IN NO EVENT SHOULD THE INFORMATION IN THE MATERIALS BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL CARE.