OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW OF THE SUBJECT:

Microbiology is the study of organisms, most of which are too small to be seen with the naked eye and includes bacteria, algae, protozoa, and fungi, as well as acellular agents, such as viruses and prions. The medical students during their phase-II of medical program undergo training in department of microbiology and acquire knowledge and laboratory skill in the structure, physiology, genetics, pathogenicity, ecology, and taxonomy of microorganisms, human and animal infectious diseases, immunology, bacteriology, virology, molecular genetics.

Teaching –Learning Methodology:

 The Microbiology subject is taught in three semesters of six months each, comprises of 300 teaching hours, adopting integrated approach in combination with other Para clinical and clinical subjects. The faculty formulate the learning objectives based on the course objectives and use appropriate T-L methodology for training sessions, which includes didactic lectures, tutorials, lecture cum demonstration, interactive lectures, problem solving session and structured quiz session on common clinical scenario with features of different type of communicable diseases. ?

Laboratory sessions include hands on skill development for diagnostic procedures in serology, virology, parasitology, mycology and molecular microbiology using Objective structured practical examination (OSPE), presentations of clinical case scenario, and debriefing of problem-solving skills. 

Course Objectives:

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

1. State the infective micro-organisms of the human body and describe the host parasite relationship.
2. List pathogenic micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi) and describe the pathogenesis of the diseases produced by them.
3. State or indicate the modes of transmission of pathogenic and opportunistic organisms and their sources, including insect vectors responsible for transmission of infection.
4. Describe the mechanisms of immunity to infections.
5. Acquire knowledge on suitable antimicrobial agents for treatment of infections and scope of immunotherapy and different vaccines available for prevention of communicable diseases.
6. Apply methods of disinfection and sterilization to control and prevent hospital and community acquired infections.
7. Recommend laboratory investigations regarding bacteriological examination of food, water, milk and air.

SKILLS

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

1. Plan and interpret laboratory investigations for the diagnosis of infectious diseases and to correlate the clinical manifestations with the etiological agent.
2. Identify the common infectious agents with the help of laboratory procedures and use antimicrobial sensitivity tests to select suitable antimicrobial agents.
3. Perform commonly employed bed-side tests for detection of infectious agents such as blood film for malaria, filaria, gram staining and AFB staining and stool sample for ova cyst.
4. Use the correct method of collection, storage and transport of clinical material for microbiological investigations.

INTEGRATION

?The student should understand infectious diseases of national importance in relation to the clinical, therapeutic and preventive aspects. 

Outline of the Course Content:

The teaching hours for Pathology course will be 300 hrs., which Includes Lectures, Practicals, Tutorials, Demonstrations & Seminars. Broad distribution of teaching hours is as given below:

Didactic Lectures                                               

Demonstrations                                          

Practicals,                                                

Tutorials,                                                    

Group learning sessions                      

Interactive review sessions                                   

Seminars & Symposium                              

Integrated T-L sessions                                 

COURSE CONTENT

1. Introduction to Microbiology
2. Introduction to Bacteriology
3. Bacterial Staining and Cultivation
4. Common Tests for Bacterial identification
5. Introduction to parasitology
6. Introduction to Virology
7. Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Infection
8. Introduction to Mycology
9. Common Laboratory Methods for Diagnosis of Fungal Infections
10. Collection of Transport of Samples
11. Host-Parasite relationship  
12. Bacterial AND Viral Genetics  
13. Immunodiagnosis
14. Vaccines
15. Sterilization and disinfection
16. Bacteriology of water and air
17. Microorganisms associated with gastrointestinal infections.
18. Gastrointestinal infections caused by parasites.