92354 Introductory Pharmacology and Microbiology
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 92352 Anatomy and Physiology: Pregnancy and Childbirth OR 92670 Anatomy and Physiology: Pregnancy and Childbirth
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject is divided into two components and provides the introductory principles governing drug action and microbial infections relevant to midwifery. Students learn in this subject through attendance and engagement in lectures, workshops, and laboratory practicals. Students are able to develop their knowledge and understanding of the theory and application of pharmacology and microbiology to midwifery practice using experimental and case study approaches that demonstrate and apply the lecture content.
Microbiology: This section of the subject covers the biology of the main groups of microorganisms, concepts of normal flora, opportunistic pathogens, and microbial infections acquired that are important for the practice of midwifery. Students use practical learning activities to engage with the relevant microbiology concepts including modes of transmission of micro-organisms, prevention of hospital acquired infections, and infection control.
Pharmacology: Students develop an understanding of the pharmacological theories relevant to midwifery and directly apply this theory to clinical case studies. The key concepts students learn and apply include: potency, drug/receptor interactions, agonists and antagonists and introductory concepts of pharmacokinetics. Other key topics include the site and mechanism of action of drugs affecting the cardiovascular system, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, diabetes treatments used during pregnancy, anticoagulants, antimicrobials and drugs used in the treatment of asthma.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Describe and apply to midwifery the biology of commensal and pathogenic microorganisms |
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| 2. | Explain the sources of microbial infection and, describe the clinical and patient application of methods to control growth and transmission of micro-organisms. |
| 3. | Identify key microbial infections of the body and explain how they can impact during pregnancy, labour and neonatal life. |
| 4. | Clearly and simply explain key microbial infections and their impact on mother and baby. |
| 5. | Understand and apply to midwifery scenarios the basic principles of pharmacodynamics, including absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. |
| 6. | Explain and apply to midwifery cases the therapeutic use and adverse events of major classes of pharmaceutical drugs. |
| 7. | Develop a recommended response to a case-study situation, that includes treatment actions, descriptions of the mechanism of relevant drug applications and reasoning for medicinal choices. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Are professionally competent midwives who provide safe and effective midwifery care using intelligent kindness (2.0)
- Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the discipline of midwifery (2.1)
- Demonstrate critical thinking and sound clinical judgment that is based on evidence and reflects appropriate reasoning within the relevant professional codes and guidelines (2.2)
- Communicate effectively using spoken, written and non-verbal language across a range of contexts and to diverse audiences (2.3)
- Work collaboratively in order to provide excellence in maternity care (3.0)
- Demonstrate respectful and collegial collaboration with women, professional peers and other stakeholders (3.2)
- Are socially responsible citizens who value the diversity of people (5.0)
- Are professionally engaged critical thinkers who take a lively and questioning approach and embrace lifelong learning (6.0)
- Demonstrate professional cultural competency which contributes to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, inclusive of physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellness (7.0)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Introductory Pharmacology and Microbiology is an early stage subject which introduces Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery students to these two disciplines.
This subject addresses the Graduate Attributes:
2.0 Professional competence
This graduate attribute is developed and assessed in all of the assessment items.
3.0 Collaboration
This graduate attribute is developed in your workshops and practical classes and is assessed by you and your peers during your group work Brochure/Poster assessment item for Microbiology.
5.0 Diversity
This graduate attribute is developed in your online learning modules and in workshops and will be assessed in your written assignment to accompany your poster/brochure.
6.0 Professional engagement
This graduate attribute is assessed in your case:study assignment, and in your poster/brochure and accompanying assignment.
7.0 Indigenous cultural respect
This graduate attribute is assessed in your assignment.
In this subject you will learn by attendance and participation in lectures, practicals and workshops. You will have the opportunity to explore the theory, concepts and application of these in midwifery. Your knowledge of the core concepts that demonstrates your professional competence (2.0) will be assessed by 4 separate online tests that provide feedback.
In the workshops you will work in groups on pharmacology and midwifery relevant case studies to consolidate your understanding of the concepts pharmacology and develop communication skills around this discipline and application in the clinic. You will apply the theoretical concepts to clinical scenarios by working in teams to solve problems in a workbook. The pharmacology concepts will be assessed by a case study written assignment that will assess your professional competence (2.0), and professional engagement (6.0). Your knowledge, application, and communication of the issues of infections and infection control will be assessed by a group work public communication poster/brochure and accompanying individual assignment. These two items combined will assess your collaboration (3.0), professional competence (2.0), diversity (5.0), professional engagement (6.0), and Indigenous cultural respect (7.0).
Teaching and learning strategies
The subject will be delivered as a two-hour lecture per week complemented by either a two hour microbiology practical or two hour pharmacology workshop. The lecture slides will be provided in advance and in some weeks additional learning resources will be provided through UTS Canvas that you will be expected to read prior to the class so you can engage in discussion and learning activities in the lecture. You will have the opportunity to test and develop your knowledge, and receive written and oral feedback on your learning, through online activities during the lectures.
The workshops will be group work sessions where you will work through pharmacological principles in case study formats. The concepts and approaches from the workshops will be directly applicable to your skills for the case study assignment. Information relevant to each workshop will be provided in a booklet format which you are expected to read prior to attending the session.
In the practical sessions, you will conduct hands-on microbiology experiments to develop and apply your knowledge of microbiology, infection control, infection sources, and means to control infection risk in the clinical setting. In addition, you will further develop your communication skills and clinical application of infectious disease risks by developing a communication brochure or poster to be used in the ante- or post-natal clinical setting.
Practical sessions encourage you to work in teams and also allow you to have a one-to-one relationship with your demonstrator which permits tuition specific to your individual learning needs. It is expected that you will read the practical notes before coming to class to be prepared for your learning and be aware of the health and safety implications of your planned experiments in the class.
The workshop, practical sessions and lectures will also be used to facilitate the preparation and completion of the microbiology poster/brochure. You are also expected to collaborate within your group outside of class hours to complete this assessment task.
Content (topics)
Microbiology and disease - biology of main groups of micro-organisms, normal flora, pathogens, and compromised host. Sources, modes of transmission of micro-organisms including between mother and baby and precautions for midwives caring for them; antibiotics and chemotherapy of microbial disease, development of antibiotic resistance, prevention of infections of particular importance for pregnant women and their babies- sanitation, sterilisation, disinfection; use of specific midwife precautions or isolation procedures. Diseases acquired via the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. salmonellosis, polio, rotavirus, Listeria etc), the urinary tract, the respiratory tract (e.g. bacterial/viral pneumonias, Legionella, TB, whooping cough, measles, meningitis etc), the genital tract (HIV, hepatitis B, Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, etc). Knowledge of the infectious diseases that are important considerations in maternal and infant health care, including means to prevent, control and treat.
Concepts of potency, drug/receptor interactions, agonists and antagonists. Introductory pharmacokinetics – factors controlling drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion including issues of increased drug clearance during pregnancy and teratogens/developmental effects of drugs (drug pregnancy categories). Drugs affecting the cardiovascular system –alpha and beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, vasodilators, diuretics, cardiac glycosides and fibrinolytic therapy. Pain management, opiate receptor pharmacology and use of NSAIDs and opioids. Anti-emetics. Drugs used in the treatment of asthma – beta agonists, antimuscarinics, corticosteroids. Tocolytics for preterm labour and oxytocics for induction and control of postpartum bleeding. Antimicrobial drug mode of action.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Quiz/Test
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 2.0 Professional competence 6.0 Professional engagement
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| 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): 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | Online tests have 30 items of multiple-choice or short-answer questions to be completed in 45 minutes. |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on the accuracy of your disciplinary knowledge. You will also be assessed by your interpretation, critical analysis and application of the disciplinary knowledge relevant professionally in the context of microbiology. |
Assessment task 2: Pharmacology Clinical Case Scenarios
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 2.0 Professional competence 6.0 Professional engagement |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 5, 6 and 7 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 2.0, 2.2 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Case study |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | You have 30 minutes to complete the short-answer questions. |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on the accuracy of your disciplinary knowledge, your critical analysis of information presented, and interpretation and application of this information within the context of the clinical case study. A criteria marking sheet will be provided to you on the subject UTSOnline site so that you understand the expectations from the assessment item. This case study assignment, which should should not exceed 5 pages will be submitted though Turnitin. |
Assessment task 3: Microbiology Brochure
| Intent: | This assessment task aims to develop the following graduate attributes: 2.0 Professional competence 3.0 Collaboration 5.0 Diversity 6.0 Professional engagement 7.0 Indigenous culture respect |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 2.0, 2.3, 3.0, 3.2, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | A4 brochure |
| Criteria: | The communication and visual design of the poster will be part of the marking criteria. The accuracy of your discipline knowledge and application of this knowledge to the professional setting and in the setting of the indigenous communities will be assessed. You will use SPARKPlus to evaluate the group contributions to the proposal and you will peer assess each groups poster or brochure in the final week of the microbiology class. A marking rubric will be provided for the poster or brochure and for the peer assessment. |
Minimum requirements
A minimum overall mark of 50% is required to pass this subject.
Students are strongly encouraged to attend all lectures, workshops and practicals. If assessment items are not completed due to misadventure outside of your control, students may apply for Special Consideration via My Student Portal within two working days after the missed test or task. Otherwise, a zero mark for that assessment task will be given.
Required texts
None
Recommended texts
The UTS Coursework Assessment Policy and Procedure Manual is required reading. It is not obligatory to buy textbooks for this subject but the following are highly recommended.
Pharmacology section:
Neal, M.J. (2012). Medical Pharmacology at a Glance (7th ed), Wiley-Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Microbiology section:
Lee, G. & Bishop, P. (2016). Microbiology and Infection Control for Health Professionals (6th ed). Pearson.
References
You gain a better level of understanding concepts when you read. You can also any of the following references below. You may also refer to your lecturer's references.
These references are available in the UTS library for your perusal.
Pharmacology
Edmunds, M. (2016). Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology (8th edition). Elsevier.
Jordan, S. (2010). Pharmacology for Midwives, the Evidence Base for Safe Practice (2nd edition). Palgrave Macmillan.
Kee, J., Hayes, E., & McCuistion, L. (2015). Pharmacology – a Patient Centred Nursing Process Approach (8th edition). Elsevier.
Rang, H., Dale, M., Ritter, J., Flower, R., & Henderson, G. (2020). Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology (9th edition). Elsevier.
Microbiology
Bauman, R., Machunis-Masuoka, E., & Montgomery, J. (2018). Microbiology with Diseases by Body System (5th edition). Pearson.
Cowan, MK & Bunn, J (2013) Microbiology Fundamentals: a Clinical Approach. McGraw-Hill.
King, T et al. (2015). Varney’s Midwifery (5th edition). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Mattson, S & Smith, J. (2015). Core Curriculum for Maternal-Newborn Nursing (5th edition). Elsevier.
Murray, S. & McKinney, E. (2014). Foundations of Maternal-Newborn and Women’s Health Nursing. (6th edition). Elsevier.
Pairman, S., Pincombe, J., Thorogood, C., & Tracy, S. (2014). Midwifery: Preparation for Practice (3rd edition). Elsevier.
Ricci, S. (2013). Essentials of Maternity, Newborn, and Women’s Health Nursing. (3rd edition). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Tortora, G.,Funke, B., & Case, C. (2016). Microbiology, An Introduction, (12th edition). Pearson.