91829 Microbiology Diagnosis
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Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 91314 General Microbiology
Anti-requisite(s): 91196 Microbiology Diagnosis AND 91338 Clinical Bacteriology
Description
Pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites cause debilitating and potentially lethal diseases. It is therefore critical to accurately and rapidly identify their causative agent and determine the best treatment to prevent any serious outcomes and to also reduce the spread of infections in society. The aim of Microbiology Diagnosis is to provide a limited but accurate diagnostic laboratory experience for undergraduate students. During the course of Microbiology Diagnosis, students acquire skills and expertise in the application of the very latest diagnostic technologies and approaches to infections. Students apply their knowledge in a range of infectious diseases to not only identify the infectious agent but also evaluate the most appropriate anti-microbial treatment.
This subject explores and develops the skills to critically analyse and interpret results from real life case studies. Students learn through interactive workshops and practicals with hands-on classes in the HIVE Superlab. Professional skills relevant to a range of careers include a focus on quality assurance, laboratory safety and good laboratory practice in the infectious disease setting. Students in Microbiology Diagnosis learn key skills in both practical and diagnostic interpretive and critical analyses, which are highly relevant to real world diagnostic laboratory settings and infectious disease research environments.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Recognise the major groups of microbes (bacteria, viruses, yeast, parasites) pathogenic to humans. This includes their occurrence, the illnesses they cause, and the logic behind the laboratory investigations used for their isolation, identification and anti-microbial susceptibility testing. |
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| 2. | Understand the decision process to carry out rapid presumptive and confirmatory identification tests on isolates and perform basic reading of results (plate reading, ELISA, PCR, ...) in order to report the correct information to the prescribing doctor. |
| 3. | Distinguish among the different groups of anti-microbial, their methods of action, their mechanisms of resistance if appropriate and interpret susceptibility tests. |
| 4. | Understand the requirements of working in a diagnostic laboratory environment regarding quality control, automation, accreditation etc. |
| 5. | Apply the results provided by novel molecular approaches in use in diagnostic laboratories to identify organisms and apply your knowledge of the various organisms to pinpoint the limitations of these techniques. |
| 6. | Report relevant results, after laboratory investigations have been performed, in order to communicate effectively with stakeholders (e.g. laboratory fellows, Doctors) using accurate and professional language. |
| 7. | Work in a PC2 confinement laboratory using the necessary skills to comply with the corresponding Work Health & Safety. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Explain how diseases arise and disrupt normal physiological function and appraise the technologies used to diagnose, treat, and cure diseases. (1.1)
- Collect, accurately record, interpret, and draw conclusions from data to solve real-world medical problems, and infer how the results of medical research can be translated to improve patient outcomes. (2.1)
- Evaluate ethical, social, and cultural issues in medical science in local and global contexts and work responsibly, safely and with respect to diversity and regulatory frameworks. (3.1)
- Reflect upon, independently evaluate, and critically appraise current evidence-based literature to identify medical problems or unmet medical needs and creatively translate medical research results to improve the clinical care of patients. (4.1)
- Effectively communicate medical science knowledge and research information, and the importance thereof, to a range of audiences using a variety of modes, independently and collaboratively. (5.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
1. You will learn the necessary disciplinary knowledge through your interaction with practitioners of the discipline in interactive workshops, online content and face-to-face laboratory practicals.
This will be assessed through:
- online knowledge-based quizzes
- cumulative knowledge acquisition will be assessed through the practical exam
2. You will use a Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking specifically associated with clinical microbiology professional practice. You will use critical and interpretative thinking in order to interpret biological tests and clinical information. You are encouraged to discuss with your fellow students and demonstrators the test you choose.
This will be assessed through:
- the cumulative online quizzes and the final practical exam that covers the decision making process when a sample is received and the specific identification tests to be performed.
- knowledge acquired during the session.
3. You will acquire the Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility necessary to work in a professional environment.
This will include practical bench skills that you will learn and practice during laboratory practicals.
You will learn to work both individually and in collaboration with a group of students.
You will learn how to report your findings. The reporting of results is of primary importance in order to provide the doctor with the information needed to make an informed decision regarding diagnostic and treatment. You will learn what information is collected on the specimen studied and which information is appropriate to report to the prescribing physician.
You will learn about safety rules and the appropriate way to handle different specimens
This will be assessed through:
- the presentation of your results during wrap up sessions
- the assessment related to employability
- the practical exam
4. You will need to demonstrate Reflection, Innovation, Creativity by participating to the various activities that are proposed to you from week 1 including the completion of the practice online quizzes or the identification sheets. This will be assessed in the employability task.
5.Communication is very important in the professional world. You will develop your ability to effectively communicate your findings and how you have reached them by presenting in front of the class during the practicals, writing doctor and practical reports.
These skills will be assessed through:
Presentations of results during wrap up sessions and the written exams (prac and theory)
Teaching and learning strategies
The subject will run over 12 weeks. The subject will be organised in modules and will be a mix of online workshops, and face to face practicals and workshops. Schedule for each week will vary depending on the activities offered. A detailed timetable will be available in CANVAS. You will be expected to follow closely communication via CANVAS and UTS emails to ensure you know your weekly activities.
Week 1: You will attend a 2h face to face Introductory activities session that will include, revisions, laboratory safety and introduction to new tools. Details will be posted on CANVAS.
During this session, the teaching staff will introduce you to the subject and its different modules. You will work in groups to use your prior knowledge to start acquiring essential information necessary for the successful completion of the subject. These activities will set the foundation of your learning in this subject.
To complete this session, you will have access to online material. This will be available on CANVAS before preparation week and will stay online for the duration of the subject. You will also be expected to have consulted the revision slides made available in CANVAS.
Online content
There are no scheduled lectures. Part of the disciplinary knowledge is acquired through modules including case studies and knowlwedge checks available in CANVAS. Each module is directly related to a practical session and a workshop. You are expected to study this content on your own. You can do this at your own pace as the modules will be open ahead a time, however to help with your studies it is recommended that you keep your learning synchronised between the CANVAS content, the workshops and the practicals within a module.
Workshops: You will attend 2 types of workshops:
5x1h of online workshops in weeks 2, 3, 4, 9 and 11 and 5x2h of on campus workshops in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
These sessions will prepare you for the practical sessions but will also be in the format of Q&A session about content, review of case studies or presentations of topics such as automation in microbiology laboratories, the importance of quality controls or laboratory accreditation.
You will learn about various pathogens and the diseases they cause at different sites of infection.
You will discuss clinical cases obtained from real-life patients. You will have access to clinical and biological data and you will identify the pathogen and propose treatments. This will allow you to obtain immediate feedback during the discussions.
You will have access to online learning material in the form of short videos and written notes (provided in CANVAS) to support the content of each module that you will be required to study before attending the workshops or practical sessions.
You will also have the opportunity to learn about pathogens and diseases by experts in microbiology and clinical identification of pathogens. They are researchers or experienced hospital scientists who will give you an up-to-date, enthusiastic and passionate overview of their work.
During the 5x2h face-to-face workshops, you will work in collaborative spaces with the same group of students as in your practical classes. These tutorials will run for 2h the weeks you do not have a practical class.
Practicals: Practicals will be delivered in the HIVE. You will work in groups of 3 or 6. In order to provide you with a diagnostic laboratory experience that mimics how a specimen is processed in the microbiology section of a pathology laboratory, your practicals will run for 3h over 3 consecutive days unless specified otherwise. Practicals will run in weeks 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.
The final practical exam will run during the final exam period. Final date will be published in CANVAS
You will learn about identification techniques and progress towards the identification of organisms within a specific specimen obtained from various body sites (blood, sputum, stool, urine, etc), together with patient history.
You will also test which antimicrobial will be appropriate for the treatment of the patient (if any).
As part of your laboratory training, you will use an online practical manual (Class Notebook) to describe in detail the different methodologies to use and you will have access to online learning material to study before and after the class in the form of slides to read and online quizzes to perform.
Before the census date, you will be given a formative quiz that will be corrected during the next class. At that time you will receive feedback.
Independent learning activities: To help you understand key concepts, you will complete CANVAS formative quizzes at your own pace but we recommend they are attempted outside prior or after practical classes. You will have the opportunity to take these quizzes as many times as you want. These quizzes will be available on CANVAS and answers will be provided at a later time.
Also, you are required to study the online learning material in CANVAS prior to workshops and practical classes.
Content (topics)
The common and clinically important pathogens (bacteria, yeast, viruses, parasites) and the diseases they cause.
The identification of these pathogens.
The testing of these pathogens as to their antimicrobial susceptibilities and resistances.
A systems-based coverage of infection and laboratory diagnosis.
The molecular methods of identification of organisms
Decision-making process applied to pathogen identification
Quality control in microbiology laboratories
Automation in microbiology laboratories
National laboratory accreditation
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Practical assessment
| Intent: | This task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, Enquiry and Critical Thinking 3. Profesional, Ethical and Social Responsibility 5. Communication |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 35% |
| Length: | 2h on campus |
| Criteria: | Correctness of answers to questions, and quality of the interpretation in evidence. Medical microbiology is essentially a discipline that pulls relevant information together from the patient history, clinical findings as well as laboratory investigation. The practical exam will allow you to display your ability to piece cases together from disparate information by applying critical thinking. You will also need to communicate your findings in accurate, clear and appropriate language in either your laboratory or Doctors' reports. |
Assessment task 2: Employability assessment
| Intent: | This task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes 3. Profesional, Ethical and Social Responsibility 4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 4, 6 and 7 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 3.1 and 4.1 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Length: | Maximum 250 words per selection criteria |
| Criteria: | appropriate engagement with the online space understanding of the position description effective group work assessment content relevant with the job offer |
Assessment task 3: Knowledge-based assessment
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, Enquiry and Critical Thinking 5. Communication |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 30 to 45 min each |
| Criteria: | Correctness of answers to questions, and quality of the writing in the interpretation of evidence |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass this subject you must obtain an overall mark of 50% or more.