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 or equivalent of the Bachelor’s Programme in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, with the exception of the course BIOB1060

or

• Admitted to the Complementary Education in Biomedical Laboratory Science

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

• Work in blood bank, 3.5 credits
• Blood type serology, 4.5 credits
• Medical immunology with transplantation immunology

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

• Microbiology, 7 credits
• Infection immunology, 3 credits

8.5 credits overlap with the course BIO3100 Transfusion and Transplantation

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

Individual practical exam, 3 hours.

No aids are permitted.

A-F.

All answers are assessed by two examiners. An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

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