RMSF Continuing Education: Clinical and Diagnosis and Treatment

RMSF: Clinical diagnosis and treatment

The interactive web-based training module, Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment for Healthcare Providers, is designed to increase knowledge and change competency of Rocky Mountain spotted fever practices and strategies. Free continuing education is awarded when requested.

English | Spanish

Objectives

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to:

1. Describe Rocky Mountain spotted fever epidemiology, vectors, and risk factors.
2. Identify clinical characteristics of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
3. Explain importance of early clinical diagnosis and recommended Rocky Mountain spotted fever treatment.
4. Describe available laboratory tests for Rocky Mountain spotted fever diagnosis.
5. Explain how to prevent and respond to tick bites.
6. Describe the importance of collaboration between clinicians and public health personnel in responding to outbreaks of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Faculty/Credentials

Johanna Salzer, DVM, PHD, Veterinary Medical Officer, Epidemiology Team Lead, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

David McCormick, MD, MPH, Medical Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Origination date: May 2, 2023

Renewal date: May 2, 2025

Hardware/software: Computer Hardware; Internet Connection; Browser

Materials: None

Target audience: Healthcare providers and public health practitioners

Prerequisites: Knowledge of basic biological sciences and basic epidemiologic concepts, such as descriptive epidemiology.

Format: This activity is Web on Demand.

Contact information: Office of Johanna Salzer, 404-639-5176

Accreditation statements

In support of improving patient care, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

CME

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAPA CME: Credit Designation Statement – Enduring Materials

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 5/2/2025. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

CNE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this activity for 1 nursing contact hours.

CPE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated this Knowledge-based event for pharmacists to receive 0.1 CEUs in pharmacy education. The Universal Activity Number is JA4008229-0000-23-036-H01-P.

After credit is claimed, an unofficial statement of credit is immediately available on Training and Continuing Education Online (TCEO). Official credit will be uploaded within 60 days on the NABP/CPE Monitor

CEU

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEU's for this program.

CECH

Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES^®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES^®) to receive up to 1.0 total Category I continuing education contact hours. Maximum advanced level continuing education contact hours available are 1.0. Continuing Competency credits available are 1.0. CDC provider number 98614.

AAVSB/RACE

This program was reviewed and approved by AAVSB RACE program for 1.2 hours of continuing education. Participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education. Please contact the AAVSB RACE program if you have any comments or concerns regarding this program's validity or relevancy to the veterinary profession.

Certified Public Health Professionals (CPH):

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a pre-approved provider of Certified in Public Health (CPH) recertification credits and is authorized to offer 1.0 CPH recertification credits for this program.

Disclosure

In compliance with continuing education requirements, all planners and presenters must disclose all financial relationships, in any amount, with ineligible companies during the previous 24 months as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or products under investigational use.

CDC, our planners, and content experts wish to disclose they have no financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Content will not include any discussion of the unlabeled use of a product or a product under investigational use.

CDC did not accept financial or in-kind support from ineligible companies for this continuing education activity.

Instructions for Obtaining Continuing Education (CE)

To receive continuing education (CE) for WB4699- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment, please visit CDC TRAIN and search for the course in the Course Catalog using WB4699. Follow the steps below by April 1, 2026.

1. Register for and complete the course.
2. Pass the post-assessment at 78%.
3. Complete the evaluation.
4. Visit Your Learning to access your certificates and transcript.

Fees

No fees are charged for CDC’s CE activities.

References

• Biggs, H. M. (2016). Diagnosis and management of tickborne rickettsial diseases: Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other spotted fever group rickettsioses, ehrlichioses, and anaplasmosis—United States [PDF – 48 pages]. MMWR.
• Recommendations and Reports, 65.Demma LJ, Traeger MS, Nicholson WL, et al. Rocky Mountain spotted fever from an unexpected tick vector in Arizona. N Engl J Med2005;353:587–94.
• Elghetany MT, Walker DH. Hemostatic changes in Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Mediterranean spotted fever. Am J Clin Pathol1999;112:159–68.
• Holman RC, Paddock CD, Curns AT, et al. Analysis of risk factors for fatal Rocky Mountain spotted fever: evidence for superiority of tetracyclines for therapy. J Infect Dis2001;184:1437– 44.
• Kimberlin, D. W., Brady, M. T., & Jackson, M. A. (2018). Red Book (2018): Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases.
• Kirkland KB, Wilkinson WE, Sexton DJ. Therapeutic delay and mortality in cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Clin Infect Dis1995;20:1118–21.
• Massey EW, Thames T, Coffey CE, et al. Neurologic complications of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. South MedJ 1985;78:1288–90, 1303.
• Paddock CD, Alvarez-Herandez G. Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted fever). In: Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017. p. 952-957.
• Regan JJ, Traeger MS, Humpherys D, et al. Risk factors for fatal outcome from Rocky Mountain spotted fever in a highly endemic area—Arizona, 2002–2011. Clin Infect Dis2015;60:1659–66.
• Todd SR, Dahlgren FS, et al. No visible dental staining in children treated with doxycycline for suspected Rocky Mountain spotted fever. J Pediatr2015;166(5):1246-51
• Traeger MS, Regan JJ, Humpherys D, et al. Rocky Mountain spotted fever characterization and comparison to similar illnesses in a highly endemic area—Arizona, 2002–2011. Clin Infect Dis2015;60:1650–8.