The Maryland Department of Health’s Center for Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases (CZVBD) is encouraging the use of the new Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (and Other Tickborne Diseases) Toolkit for Healthcare Providers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This resource is intended to provide healthcare providers, epidemiologists and public health practitioners with relevant information regarding the diagnosis and treatment of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) and other tickborne diseases in the United States. The toolkit also includes opportunities for continuing education in seven professional categories (CME, CNE, CEU, CECH, AAVSB/RACE, CPE, and CPH) for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, veterinarians, nurses, epidemiologists, public health professionals, educators and health communicators.
Key learning objects of the toolkit include:
- RMSF is a rapidly progressing tickborne disease with non-specific clinical findings during early illness.
- Treatment is most effective when started within the first 5 days of symptoms.
- Doxycycline is the drug of choice for treating people of all ages, including pediatric patients.
Additional information, including the documents listed above, is available at https://www.cdc.gov/rmsf/resources/toolkit.html
For more information about tickborne diseases in Maryland, contact the Center for Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases at 410-767-5649 or mdh.czvbd@maryland.gov.