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Medical microbiology

Diagnosing respiratory pathogens

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Explore how respiratory pathogens are diagnosed, identify specific methods and pathogens, evaluate molecular PCR data, antimicrobial sensitivity assay data and formulate a clinical diagnosis for different organisms. Engage with antibiotic resistance data and suggest stewardship plans.

Learning outcomes

  • Interpret and evaluate data that arises from classical, biochemical and molecular diagnostic techniques.
  • Apply knowledge of the differences, principles and appropriateness of classical, biochemical and molecular microbiological techniques.
  • Demonstrate the ability to calculate the proportion of specific antibiotic resistance phenotypes observed.
  • Evaluate the impact of molecular mechanisms on virulence and healthcare concepts and strategies.
  • Apply critical thinking and decision-making skills in a microbiological diagnostic scenario context.
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Skills

Designing and Planning Experiments

  • How to choose the correct media for sputum samples
  • Determining how to carry out further identification using the blood bottle sample
  • Defining the preliminary steps before carrying out PCR
  • Defining which further investigations would be necessary in order to differentiate between a commensal and pathogenic bacteria

Manipulating and Presenting Data

  • How to calculate the relative proportions of bacterial isolates resistant to specific antibiotics

Interpreting and Analysing Data

  • How to identify different bacteria on agar plates
  • How to identify bacteria in blood culture using classical and molecular techniques
  • How to interpret antibiotic sensitivity assay results and determine the most suitable antibiotic for treatment

Concepts, Principles and Theories

  • How to identify a microbial organism growing on an agar plate
  • How to select the correct differential or selective growth media to use for pathogen isolation
  • How to identify the expected microscopic morphology and any further biochemical tests that could be used to help differentiate between S. pneumoniae and K. pneumoniae
  • How to identify the different biochemical tests used in a microbiological lab
  • Defining the principles behind blood bottle cultures
  • Exploring the virulence factors and intrinsic resistances of K. pneumoniae
  • How to recognise the distinction between hospital-acquired and community-acquired infections and how antibiotic resistance impacts stewardship policies

Learn more about our approach to skills
Prof. Nicky King
University of Exeter

"The great thing about Smart Worksheets is that they tell you at every point whether you’ve got it right or wrong, what might be wrong and how you might go about changing it. The students found that really valuable. In their exam, we found that the average mark in the maths questions rose from 59% to 79%, which made a really big difference to the student outcome.”

Details

Degrees

Biomedical science

Modules

Clinical biomedical science

Topic

Medical microbiology

Purchase option

The Smart Worksheet Library

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