76209 - Clinical Microbiology

Learning outcomes

Define the general characteristic of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi and helminths Describe the routes of transmission for infections of medical importance Discuss the establishment of host-parasite interaction Describe the basic concept of prophylaxis and antimicrobial and antiviral therapy, including mechanism of drug resistance Describe characteristics, pathogenesis, and clinical aspects for bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi and helminths of medical relevance Recognize and discuss the clinical meaning of microbiological findings within the diagnosis of infectious diseases

Course contents

1.Characteristics of bacteria of medical importance

2.Characteristics of viruses of medical importance

3.Pathogenesis of infections and host defense

4.Prophylaxis of infections: serum, immunoglobulines, vaccines.

5.Antibacterial drugs and antiviral drugs, mechanisms of drug resistance

6. Microbiological diagnosis

7. Biotechnologies in the diagnosis of bloodstream infections

8. Biotechnology and human microbiota

9. Gram-positive cocci (staphylococci, streptococci)

10. Gram-positive rods (clostridia)

11. Gram-negative rods belonging to Enterobacteriaceae

12. Mycobacteria

13. Spirochetaes

14.Characteristics of protozoa of medical importance. Enteric protozoa. Other foodborne protozoa.

15. Vector-borne protozoa: leishmaniasis, malaria

16. DNA viruses: Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae

17. RNA viruses; Coronaviridae and influenza viruses

18. RNA viruses; retroviruses

19. RNA viruses: arboviruses

20.RNA viruses; hepatitis viruses

Readings/Bibliography

Patrick Murray, Ken S. Rosenthal, and Michael A. Pfaller. Medical Microbiology, 9th Edition, April 2020. Elsevier. Available at the Biblioteca Biomedica

Teaching methods

In-class lectures

Assessment methods

The final exam consists of a questionnaire with 40 multiple choice questions (4 possible answers, one of which is correct) which will cover all the topics of the course (with a number of questions on the various topics proportional to the number of credits of each course / module). The exam will be considered passed (with a score of 18) when at least 23 questions are answered correctly. The mark of 30 with honors will be awarded in case all the answers to the questions are correct.

 

Teaching tools

In-class lectures will be supported by Power Point slides. Slides will be online available at the beginning of each lecture. The teaching material is available at https://virtuale.unibo.it/ by using student's username and password

Office hours

See the website of Stefania Varani

See the website of Vittorio Sambri