The Audience of Patients Diagnosed With a C. diff. Infection, Being Treated For and Recovering From a Clostridioides difficile Infection and Recurrences  — with Family Members and Caregivers had the opportunity to view charts, illustrations, and obtain educational information from leading healthcare professionals,  health advocates, educators, along with C diff. Survivors making a difference in transforming the patient experience and changing the way people experience  C. diff. infections worldwide.

Distinguished members and keynote speakers provided insight as to what impacts the patient and families on both quality and economic topics, what role leadership plays in creating the right culture for patient-centered care, and how to identify, evaluate, and prioritize innovations that can quickly touch the lives of patients battling C. diff. infections.

Unlike other conferences on this topic, C. diff. Survivors shared their C. diff. infection journeys, providing a real-world perspective on patient experience. Our attendees enjoyed learning from this virtual-online symposium and gained knowledge on the important topics that will better aid their care and recovery through tools and strategies delivered by keynote speakers.  

Keynote speakers presented up-to-date data to expand on the existing knowledge and provide important information focused on, yet not limited to,  a Clostridioides difficile infection (also known as C. diff., C. difficile, CDAD, CDI) —

• Prevention
• Treatments
• Diagnostics
• Support
• Environmental Safety
• Clinical trials and studies

WITH

• Introduction to the Gut Microbiome Research and Studies
• Infection Prevention
• Fecal Microbiota Restoration and Transplants
• C. diff.  and C. diff. recurrences

Symposium Registration was free of charge and was a live online event.

PROGRAM AGENDA AND KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

• Program Chair:   Dale Gerding, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA

Barbara McGovern, MD
Dr. Barbara McGovern has over 25 years of experience in infectious diseases. Over the past decade, she has been working within the pharmaceutical arena and is currently head of Medical Affairs at Seres Therapeutics, which is developing microbiome-based therapies.
Presentation Title: The Microbiome and You: The Cycle of Recurrent C. diff Infection

Sahil Khanna, M.B.B.S., M.S.
Dr. Sahil Khanna, M.B.B.S., M.S., is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. His research and clinical interests include Epidemiology, Outcomes, and Emerging Therapeutics for Clostridium difficile infection, He is directing the C. difficile Clinic, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation program, and C. difficile related Clinical Trials at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Presentation Topic:  C. difficile Treatment: Microbiota Restoration Therapies.

Stuart Johnson, MD, FIDSA, DTM&H
Dr. Stuart Johnson, MD is a Professor of Medicine at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Medical Center and a Researcher at the Hines VA Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. His main research interest and focus have involved the epidemiology pathogenesis and treatment of Clostridium difficile infection.
Presentation Topic: “C. difficile Infection Treatment Guideline Update: The What?
Who? How? and Why?”

Dale Gerding, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA
Dr. Gerding is Research Physician at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and Professor of Medicine (Retired) at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.  He is an infectious diseases specialist and hospital epidemiologist, past president of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. He is a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, is a Master of the American College of Physicians and the 2013 recipient of the William Middleton Award, the highest research award given by the Department of Veterans Affairs and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. His major research interest is in the epidemiology, prevention and treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection, and he is the discoverer of non-toxigenic C. difficile strain M3.
Presentation Topic: “Can We Prevent C. difficile Infection by Replacing the Bug?”

Charlotte Johnson, M.Ed.,   C. diff. Caregiver
Charlotte Johnson is an educator with an interest in elementary school programs.  Charlotte teaches first grade classes and with her extensive education and training, oversees the first graders as they demonstrate their accomplishments in their program.  Charlotte focuses on the academic programs that enrich the young students lives advancing them in their studies.
Presentation Topic: “Caring For a loved one diagnosed with a C. diff. infection.”

Larry Kociolek, MD
Larry Kociolek, MD, Attending Physician at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Lurie Children’s whereby he coordinates the surveillance for and prevention of infection-related adverse events and leads administrative efforts to optimize patient and healthcare worker safety. Broadly,
Dr. Kociolek’s academic interests are focused on healthcare epidemiology, particularly pediatric Clostridioides difficile infection and infections caused by antibiotic-resistant organisms.
Presentation Topic: “Clostridioides difficile infections in Children”

Renata Johnson, C. diff. Survivor
Renata Johnson has an educational background in classical music and can communicate in over eight languages.  Renata discusses the highs and lows of battling this infection with fellow-patients, family members, and caregivers while guiding individuals on how to become stronger health care advocates.
Presentation Topic: “Sharing a C. difficile Journey from a C. diff. Survivor.”

This Live-Online Event Was Sponsored by Seres Therapeutics  

C Diff Foundation Mission:   Educating and Advocating for the prevention, treatments, clinical trials, diagnostics, support, and environmental safety of Clostridioides difficile
(C. diff.) infections worldwide.