Advanced Medical Microbiology is the key subject which focuses on microorganisms of medical interest. It is the study of the causes and management of infectious diseases initiated by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. A vast number of these comprise our microbial flora living in and on various body surfaces. The rest are primary pathogens that are capable of infecting individuals and causing disease. By understanding how such organisms cause infections in humans, how they spread, and how they can be eradicated, specialists can help in eradicating several and even deadly infections caused by these organisms.
The BS318 module is designed to develop the student's understanding of the theory and principles of Medical Microbiology and its role in health and human disease. A wide diversity of microorganisms, which cause disease, their public health importance, as well as their diagnosis, and prevention of infection will be studied. It will concentrate on the human body systems and their microbial infections. The emphasis will be on the clinical concept of what we call the big five requirements for infection namely, get in, stay in, defeat the host defences mechanisms, damage the host and be transmissible.
Learning outcomes:
To pass this module, students will need to be able to:
1. compare and contrast the non-pathogenic and pathogenic bacteria present in specific body systems;
2. explain and illustrate the role of hospitals in microbial diagnostic procedures, epidemiological studies and infection control;
3. explain and justify the current protocols required for safe working in Medical Microbiology laboratories;
4. critically examine the association between range of pathogens and specific diseases and explain how each infection leads to the symptoms/syndrome observed;
5. recognise how an understanding of microbial disease symptoms relates to the technical approach taken by the clinical microbiologist during the course of the infection;
6. critically assess current microbiological diagnostic procedures and analyse the need for new techniques;
7. demonstrate competence in information retrieval and data analysis and interpretation.
The BS318 module is designed to develop the student's understanding of the theory and principles of Medical Microbiology and its role in health and human disease. A wide diversity of microorganisms, which cause disease, their public health importance, as well as their diagnosis, and prevention of infection will be studied. It will concentrate on the human body systems and their microbial infections. The emphasis will be on the clinical concept of what we call the big five requirements for infection namely, get in, stay in, defeat the host defences mechanisms, damage the host and be transmissible.
Learning outcomes:
To pass this module, students will need to be able to:
1. compare and contrast the non-pathogenic and pathogenic bacteria present in specific body systems;
2. explain and illustrate the role of hospitals in microbial diagnostic procedures, epidemiological studies and infection control;
3. explain and justify the current protocols required for safe working in Medical Microbiology laboratories;
4. critically examine the association between range of pathogens and specific diseases and explain how each infection leads to the symptoms/syndrome observed;
5. recognise how an understanding of microbial disease symptoms relates to the technical approach taken by the clinical microbiologist during the course of the infection;
6. critically assess current microbiological diagnostic procedures and analyse the need for new techniques;
7. demonstrate competence in information retrieval and data analysis and interpretation.