Developing Chagas Disease Screening Programs in At-Risk U.S. Communities

Needs Statement

Clinicians in the United States, public health workers, and healthcare students and trainees do not receive systematic training about Chagas disease, even though a large portion of the U.S. population is at risk, including immigrants from continental Latin America and people living in the Southern United States where the Triatomine vector is endemic. At-risk children, women of reproductive age, and immunocompromised individuals particularly should be screened for the disease, and those confirmed to be positive should be treated to reduce their risk of developing severe sequelae of Chagas disease. This case conference aims to advance learner knowledge about the evidence-based recommendations for Chagas disease diagnosis, management, monitoring of treatment side effects, and implementation of strategies for screening and prevention. The overall goals are to enhance the quality of care for patients with Chagas disease in the United States and to improve patient outcomes by reducing disease-related morbidity and mortality.

Educational Objectives

At the conclusion of the sessions, the participants should be able to:

• Discuss the epidemiology and transmission of Chagas disease, its known risk factors, and its classical clinical manifestations.
• Apply guideline-based strategies to screen for and diagnose Chagas disease.
• Use public health tools to identify U.S. populations most at risk for Chagas disease and its sequelae.
• Implement effective treatment regimens and recognize their common side effects.

Target Audience

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.

Educational Methods

• Lectures
• Case Presentations
• Panel Discussion

Accreditation/Credit Designation

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

Baylor College of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Term of Approval

November 1, 2023 through November 30, 2025. Original release date: November 1, 2023.

Disclosure Policy

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. BCM is committed to sponsoring CE activities that are scientifically based, accurate, current, and objectively presented.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, BCM has implemented a mechanism requiring everyone in a position to control the content of an educational activity (i.e., directors, planning committee members, faculty) to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests (drug/device companies) and manage/resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. Individuals must disclose to participants the existence or non-existence of financial relationships at the time of the activity or within 24 months prior.

In addition, BCM has requested activity faculty/presenters to disclose to participants any unlabeled use or investigational use of pharmaceutical/device products; to use scientific or generic names (not trade names) in referring to products; and, if necessary to use a trade name, to use the names of similar products or those within a class. Faculty/presenters have also been requested to adhere to the ACCME's validation of clinical content statements.

BCM does not view the existence of financial relationships with commercial interests as implying bias or decreasing the value of a presentation. It is up to participants to determine whether the relationships influence the activity faculty with regard to exposition or conclusions. If at any time during this activity you feel that there has been commercial/promotional bias, notify the Activity Director or Activity Coordinator. Please answer the questions about balance and objectivity in the activity evaluation candidly.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.