From Onset to Outcome: Acute Kidney Injury Insights for Healthcare Professionals

Course overview

Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a dynamic clinical syndrome characterized by an abrupt decline in kidney function that leads to the accumulation of metabolic waste products and disturbances in fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance. Affecting hospitalized and outpatient populations, AKI is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and increased risk of chronic kidney disease progression. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) AKI guidelines provide recommendations for staging, early identification, and management. The guidelines also focus on preventing contrast-induced nephropathy, mitigating medication-related injury, and optimizing transitions of care. This interprofessional continuing education activity emphasizes early recognition of AKI, elimination of precipitating factors such as nephrotoxins and hypotension, and evidence-based management strategies, including appropriate fluid resuscitation, diuretic use, and correction of electrolyte or acid-base disturbances. Learners will explore best practices for triaging patients, determining referral or emergency indications for kidney replacement therapy, and ensuring coordinated outpatient follow-up. Participants will enhance their ability to identify at-risk patients, manage AKI complications, and support recovery through effective teamwork among healthcare clinicians.