BIOB2200 Medical Microbiology and Immunology Course description

Medical microbiology deals with all types of microorganisms that can cause infection in humans, and the immunological response to such infections. Microbiological laboratories are tasked with contributing to the detection and characterisation of infectious agents and, if relevant, antibodies in patients with a suspected infection. This is important to ensure the best possible treatment of the individual patient and to detect an outbreak as soon as possible, identify sources of infection in the event of outbreaks, sanitise the reservoir of infection and implement preventive measures against the further spread of infection.

Basic knowledge of medical microbiology and immunology are important because biomedical laboratory scientists are responsible for conducting and quality assuring the analyses and detection methods used in this type of laboratory. The course emphasises the detection and identification of microorganisms and determination of bacterial sensitivity/resistance to antibiotics, as well as methods for detecting antibodies against microorganisms. Emphasis is furthermore placed on how the different microorganisms cause infectious disease (pathogenesis) and how the balance between the microorganisms’ virulence and the host's immune system determines how serious the disease becomes. 

Passed first year of the programme or equivalent.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence: 

Knowledge 

The student 

• can describe the important properties of some of the most prevalent forms of human pathogenic microorganisms 
• can give examples of how microorganisms can cause disease
• can describe the main principles of antibiotics’ mechanisms of action
• can describe some of the resistance mechanisms of bacteria and explain how bacteria can develop resistance to an antibiotic
• can explain how microorganisms can be determined with the help of microscopy, cultivation, bio-chemical, immunological and gene technology methods and mass spectrometry, and describe the methods’ areas of use, possibilities and limitations
• can assess the importance that findings of different microorganisms can have in different types of sample material
• can explain the principles behind different immunological methods for detection of antibodies against microorganisms and describe the methods’ areas of use, possibilities and limitations 
• can explain quality assurance for relevant methods and analyses
• has knowledge of sample collection and the correct treatment of different types of sample material for microbiological investigations, and how analytical, pre- and postanalytical conditions influence analysis results
• can explain principles for sterilisation and disinfection
• is familiar with how social conditions affect the extent of various infectious diseases and the development of resistance at a national and global scale

Skills 

The student

• can detect, isolate and identify important human pathogenic microorganisms and carry out resistance testing on antibiotics, quality assuring methods used and assess sources of error
• can carry out and quality assure different methods for detecting antibodies in patients in connection with infection or vaccination and assess possible sources of error related to these
• can perform work in a responsible manner that safeguards infection control
• can follow procedures for responsible waste management both with regards to the danger of infection and the environment

General competence

The student

• is familiar with the laws and regulations relating to infection control in society and the health services
• can reflect on his/her own practice, keeping up with the latest academic research, seeking and receiving supervision
• can interpret an order containing clinical information and provide the correct test result

The course consists of the following subject areas, specified below as the number of credits:

• Microbiology, 7 credits
• Infection immunology, 3 credits

Work and teaching methods include lectures, assignments (individually and in groups) and laboratory work.

Most teaching activities take place in the laboratory, where findings of microorganisms and their antibodies, if any, from different types of sample material are examined. Relevant theory is linked to practice through lectures, individual assignments and various forms of group assignments in addition to self-study.

In order to be permitted to take the exam, the following must have been approved: 

• a minimum of 90 per cent attendance in laboratory work 
• a minimum of 80 per cent attendance in scheduled group work
• laboratory reports in accordance with specified criteria

Combined assessment:

Part 1) Individual practical exam, 3 hours.

Part 2) Supervised individual written exam, 2 hours.

One overall grade is awarded based on the following weighting of the parts of the exam: Part 1, practical exam, 70 per cent; part 2, written exam, 30 per cent. Students must be awarded a pass grade A-E for both parts of the exam in order for a student to pass the course.

Resit exam: If the student is awarded an F in one part of the exam, this part of the exam must be retaken.

Students can appeal the grade awarded for part 2 of the exam.

No aids are permitted.

A-F.

Part 1, practical exam: One external and one internal examiner.

Part 2, written exam: All exam papers are assessed by two examiners. At least 20% of the exam papers will be assessed by an external examiner. The external examiner’s assessment shall benefit all students.

7 credits overlap with the course BIO2200 Medical Microbiology and Immunological Diagnostics