CMECNE

Zika virus: transmission, symptoms and management

Learning Objectives and CME/Disclosure Information

This activity is intended for healthcare providers delivering care to women and their families.

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

1. summarize the management of a patient with zika virus
2. Counsel patients about the potential fetal effects of zika virus infection

Estimated time to complete activity: 0.25 hours

Faculty:

Susan J. Gross, MD, FRCSC, FACOG, FACMG
President and CEO, The ObG Project

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest (COI) they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified COI are thoroughly vetted and resolved according to PIM policy. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality CME activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.

Faculty: Susan J. Gross, MD, receives consulting fees from Genoox, Inc., and has financial interest in The ObG Project, Inc.

Planners and Managers: The PIM planners and managers, Trace Hutchison, PharmD, Samantha Mattiucci, PharmD, CHCP, Judi Smelker-Mitchek, MBA, MSN, RN, and Jan Schultz, MSN, RN, CHCP have nothing to disclose.

Method of Participation and Request for Credit

Fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity are as posted on The ObG Project website. During the period from Dec 31 2017 through Dec 31 2020, participants must read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures and study the educational activity.

If you wish to receive acknowledgment for completing this activity, please complete the post-test and evaluation. Upon registering and successfully completing the post-test with a score of 100% and the activity evaluation, your certificate will be made available immediately.

For Pharmacists: Upon successfully completing the post-test with a score of 100% and the activity evaluation form, transcript information will be sent to the NABP CPE Monitor Service within 4 weeks.

Joint Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and The ObG Project. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine 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.

Physician Continuing Medical Education

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Nursing Education

The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 0.2 contact hours.

Read Disclaimer & Fine Print

Zika virus disease is a nationally notifiable condition:

Healthcare providers should report suspected Zika virus disease cases to their state, local, or territorial health department, who will report to the CDC.

WHAT IS IT?

The Zika virus (ZIKV) was first discovered in 1947, but has only become a global public health threat in the last decade with marked geographic spread in the last 5 years
The Zika virus is named after the Zika forest in Uganda where it was first found, is a Flavivirus and is related to similar viruses such as dengue, West Nile and Japanese encephalitis
The infectious viral particle (virion) is primarily composed of a single strand of RNA which is released into the infected cell’s cytoplasm, overtakes the infected cell’s genetic and cellular machinery, leading to replication and release of additional Zika virus
ZIKV, typical for a Flavirus, is predominantly spread via mosquito vectors, however transmission via blood transfusion and sexual contact can occur

KEY POINTS:

Clinical symptoms appear 3 to 14 days after a mosquito bite and should resolve within 2 to 7 days
Most people will be asymptomatic
20% will have typical viral signs and symptoms, usually of a mild nature
- Fever
- Maculopaular rash
- Conjunctivitis
- Arthralgias
- Headache
Management is that of typical viral illness and includes:
- Rest
- Antipyretics
  - Note: current drug labels state that NSAIDs should not be used by pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy because of the risk of premature closure of the ductus arteriosus in the fetus
- Nutrition and adequate fluids
- Monitor for signs and symptoms of severe infection such as coagulopathies and organ damage – ICU care is rare but any concern should be escalated
- Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune neurological disorder, has been reported and while uncommon should generate a referral for diagnosis and management