Course Title: Advanced Clinical Microbiology 2

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Advanced Clinical Microbiology 2

Credit Points: 24.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ONPS2363

City Campus

Postgraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2007

Course Coordinator: Dr. Brian Meehan/A Prof Margaret Deighton

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6494/57123

Course Coordinator Email: brian.meehan@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora West Campus 223.1.53A/30A

Course Coordinator Availability: By Appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Medical Microbiology 1


Course Description

General Aims: To provide students with an understanding of selected viral (or bacterial) diseases of humans and animals and their laboratory diagnosis.

In odd-numbered years, this course runs concurrently with ONPS1047, Viral Infections

In even-numbered years it runs concurrently with ONPS 1045, Bacteria Infections

For more detailed information, please refer to the Course Guide corresponding to the year of your enrolment

Topic areas: Viral Infections: Molecular biology, replicative and pathogenic mechanisms of the major virus families, mode of action and clinical uses of antiviral agents, pathogenesis, immunology, disease manifestations, epidemiology and laboratory diagnosis of selected viral infections of medical and veterinary importance; diagnosis of viral infections (conventional culture, electron microscopy, antigen detection, detection of viral nucleic acid, serological diagnosis).

Bacterial Infections.  This course has a vocational focus. It prepares students, in particular, for a career in medical diagnostic microbiology or research in clinical microbiology. It extends the student’s understanding of the pathogenesis, epidemiology, laboratory diagnosis and control of infections, particularly those of the respiratory and genital tracts.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At successful completion of this course you will be able to:
1. understand the types of viruses (or bacteria ) that attack humans and animals
2. understand the clinical outcomes of a range of viral (or bacterial) infections in humans and animals
3. understand the process of viral (or bacterial) diagnosis in humans and animals
4. understand the means used to control viral (bacterial) infections in humans and animals.


Students will achieve an understanding of the types and clinical outcomes of a range of viral (or bacterial) infections in humans and animals, their diagnosis and control. This will contribute to their ability to work in a viral (or bacterial) diagnostic or research laboratory on diseases of humans and animals.


Overview of Learning Activities

Students will be guided through the subject by lectures and by a practical course of 1 week to achieve competence in technical skills. The normal weekly teaching load will be 2-3 hours of lectures, but this will be varied according to the particular educational objectives for the topic.

Students have the roles of active learners and have the responsibility of attending and actively participating in all planned student learning experiences, i.e. lectures and practical classes, reading all relevant references pointed out during planned student learning experiences and undertaking such other private study as will benefit their learning towards the objectives of the subject. Although no minimum attendance is required, students must be aware that sessions are available only at the times specified and cannot be repeated.

Student feedback will be obtained anonymously and voluntarily at the end of the semester on the subject content and evaluation processes. This will be used by the subject team to revise the subject and to prepare a report for inclusion in the Educational Quality Log and discussion by the course team at the course review meeting at the end of each year.


Overview of Learning Resources

Textbooks (virology or bacteriology).

Reference to specific textbook Sections and Chapters of textbooks will be provided in due course on the DLS and will represent essential outside reading in addition to the lecture materials provided. Students are not expected to buy the recommended text, but will be expected to study part or this text at some stage during the course. They will normally be placed on reserve in the Central Library.In some instances, in particular with regard to materials provided by Guest Lecturers, lectures notes may not be available in advance of classes.


Overview of Assessment

Written examination

Practical assessment

Pre-lecture tests or post-lecture tests

Oral presentations