Subject Description

Emerging pathogens pose a significant risk to blood safety worldwide. Throughout history, global trade, migration and changes to the environment have all contributed to the spread of pathogens within endemic areas, and the introduction of these formerly localized pathogens and/or their arthropod vectors into new areas.

In the 21st century, advances in molecular technologies and genetics have contributed to the rapid identification of novel species and the ability to conduct surveillance for emerging pathogens.

Learning Objectives

  1. Recognize the definition and understand the history of emerging pathogens.
  2. Describe the factors that drive the spread of emerging pathogens.
  3. Understand the risks emerging pathogens pose to the blood supply.
  4. Describe methods to prevent emerging pathogens from entering the blood supply.

Level of Instruction

Intermediate

Author / Speaker

John Pitman, PhD

John Pitman, PhD

Clinical Strategic Alliance Director
Cerus Corporation

John Pitman, PhD, Clinical Alliance Director, Cerus Corporation, Concord, CA is an epidemiologist specializing in blood safety. He currently works as a Medical Science Liaison with Cerus Corporation, providing blood safety education to clinicians and serving as a conduit for further research and education specific to pathogen reduced blood products. From 2005-2016 he worked on global health programs with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including 10 years as a researcher and project leader with the blood safety team in the Division of Global HIV/AIDS.
He has contributed to more than twenty journal articles on blood safety and blood banking issues related to developing countries. He holds a PhD in blood bank epidemiology from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Prior to joining CDC, John worked as a journalist for more than a decade, mostly as an anchor and correspondent for the Voice of America. John also earned a Master’s degree in Epidemiology from Yale University and a Masters in Journalism from Columbia University. John has also been licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician.

Additional Information

Cerus Corporation is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.

P.A.C.E.: 368-054-21
Contact Hour: 1.0
Expires on: Sep 20, 2023 at 11:59 pm CT

Professional Acknowledgment for Continuing Education

Blitz + Associates, Inc. is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider number 15148 for 1.0 contact hours.

CBRN: 114
Contact Hour: 1.0
Expires at: Jun 1, 2023 at 12:00 am CT

California Board of Registered Nursing

Technical Requirements and Assistance

Minimum software requirements:

  • Operating system
    • • Windows XP SP2
    • • Mac OS X 10.9
    • • iOS 7
    • • Android 4
  • Web browser
    • • Internet Explorer 9
    • • Safari 7
    • • Latest version of Chrome or Firefox
  • Browser plug-ins
    • • Learning activities may be encoded as MP4 videos. Your browser must support MP4 playback natively or through the operating system to view these videos.

Minimum hardware requirements:

  • Desktops, laptops
    • • 512MB of RAM
    • • 200MB of hard drive space
    • • Intel x86 processor
  • Mobile devices
    • • Device capable of running iOS 7
    • • Device capable of running Android 4

Minimum connection speed:

  • A broadband connection is required for MP4 learning activities.

Questions or Comments

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