This module was part of a live event that occurred between March 27-28, 2025. If you attended the live event please do not claim credit for this module.

Faculty

Needs Statement

Kentucky is among the states leading the country in HCV infections. It is critical for professionals to have current knowledge to provide effective treatment and education for patients. According to the CDC, Kentucky is at high risk for a HIV outbreak if introduced into the drug using population. HIV therapy was previously limited due to lack of treatment options, but more therapy options increase choice for patient treatment and challenges for providers. Screening for drug misuse is critical to the prevention of or early intervention in addiction.

Xylazine, a veterinary sedative increasingly found in the illicit drug supply (often mixed with fentanyl), can cause severe and difficult-to-treat wounds that can lead to infections, tissue damage, and even amputation if not addressed promptly and appropriately. Clinicians play a crucial role in providing effective and compassionate care to individuals suffering from these wounds, as well as offering harm reduction strategies to minimize future harm.

Target Audience

Physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, social workers, health educators and therapists who currently provide or could provide care services to persons living with HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis C.

Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the historical context in which xylazine emerged in the illicit opioid supply.
2. Recognize the typical appearance of xylazine-associated wounds.
3. Describe two of the fundamental components of treating xylazine-associated wounds.

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, University of Kentucky HealthCare CECentral 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
This enduring material is designated for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CPE
This knowledge-based activity will award 1.00 contact hour (0.100 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers.

CDE
This online course meets regulatory requirements for 1.00 hour credit as permitted by 201 KAR 8:532 for dentists and 201 KAR 8:562 for dental hygienists.

ASWB ACE
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, UK HealthCare CECentral is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. UK HealthCare CECentral maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 clinical continuing education credit.

CNE
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.00 nursing contact hour.

Faculty Disclosure

All planners, faculty, and others in control of educational content are required to disclose all their financial relationships with ineligible companies within the prior 24 months.  An ineligible company is defined as one whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Financial relationships are relevant if the educational content an individual can control is related to the business lines or products of the ineligible company.

None of the planners, faculty, and others in control of educational content for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies.

The material presented in this course represents information obtained from the scientific literature as well as the clinical experiences of the speakers. In some cases, the presentations might include discussion of investigational agents and/or off-label indications for various agents used in clinical practice. Speakers will inform the audience when they are discussing investigational and/or off-label uses.

Content review confirmed that the content was developed in a fair, balanced manner free from commercial bias. Disclosure of a relationship is not intended to suggest or condone commercial bias in any presentation, but it is made to provide participants with information that might be of potential importance to their evaluation of a presentation.

Acknowledgment

This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U1OHA30535 as part of an award totaling $4.2m. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

“Funding for this presentation was made possible by cooperative agreement U1OHA30535 from the Health Resources and Services Administration HIV/AIDS Bureau. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Any trade/brand names for products mentioned during this presentation are for training and identification purposes only.”

This content is owned by the AETC, and is protected by copyright laws.  Reproduction or distribution of the content without written permission of the sponsor is prohibited, and may result in legal action.