Changing Epidemiology of Gram-negative Infection

1. Evaluate the risk factors for gram-negative nosocomial infection and antimicrobial resistance for patients in the intensive care unit. 2. Apply your understanding of the mechanisms of resistance common to gram-negative bacteria in nosocomial disease, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase production, porin channel deletion or structural changes, and efflux pump expression, to empiric antibiotic drug selection for nosocomial pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and bacteremia. 3. Formulate a systems approach to improving the administration of appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy. 4. Given pertinent clinical and laboratory data, design an appropriate treatment plan for a patient with nosocomial gram-negative infection. 5. Evaluate the newer therapies available for managing gram-negative bacteria against traditional antibiotic drugs for empiric treatment of nosocomial infection.