03257 - Clinical Microbiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will know:

general characteristic of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi and parasites;

routes of transmission;

the establishment of pathogenic host-parasite interaction;

the role of immunity during the course of infection;

the meaning of production of infection and production of disease;

the diagnosis of infection. Collection of specimens, request for testing, tests employed, interpretation of tests;

basic concept of prophylaxis and therapy;

most relevant bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa (focusing on their characteristic, mechanism of action, symptoms, diagnosis, therapy, available vaccine).

Course contents

Microbiological, virological and serological diagnosis.

Respiratory viral infections: Human respiratory syncytial virus, Metapneumovirus, Human parainfluenza viruses, Adenoviruses, Human Influenza Virus.

Respiratory bacterial infections: Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Sexually transmitted infections: Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Treponema pallidum, Herpes Simplex Viruses (HSV1-2), Papillomavirus.

Tuberculosis

Vertical transmission infections: Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasma gondii.

Gastrointestinal infections: Helicobacter pylori, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., Vibrio cholerae, Clostridium difficile, Rotavirus, fecal Adenovirus, Norovirus, Astrovirus, Ameba, Giardia.

Infections of the central nervous system: Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Listeria monocytogenes, Enteroviruses, Herpes Viruses (VZV).

Sepsis.

Emerging infections: Chikungunya virus, Dengue virus, Zika virus, West Nile virus, Toscana virus.

HIV

Hepatitis Viruses (HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV).

Vaccine-preventable diseases: Measles, Bordetella pertussis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Clostridium tetani.

Readings/Bibliography

Suggested text-book: Michele La Placa. Principi di Microbiologia Medica, Edises, XIV Ed.

Updated teaching materials are provided on the AMS campus.

 

Teaching methods

In-class lectures will be supported by video projector and PC.

Practical activity to be carried out in the laboratory.

 

Assessment methods

Approximately three quarters of the course an on-going test is offered on a part of the program agreed at the beginning of the course. The test is a quiz and with short written, the participation is voluntary and the evaluation of the test, if passed, will be taken into consideration during the final oral exam of the course.

The final oral examination will focus on specific questions about bacteriology, virology, mycology and parassitology (the mechanisms of pathogenesis, routes of transmission, microbiological diagnosis, therapy and vaccines).

The examination will evaluate whether the students have mastered the above listed skills and have reached the teaching objectives.

 

 

Teaching tools

In-class lectures will be supported by slides. Most of slides will be available online at the end of the course (AMS Campus, http//campus.unibo.it).

Office hours

See the website of Tiziana Lazzarotto

See the website of Maria Carla Re

See the website of Angela Chiereghin