EPN-V2

HETEK4300 Bacteriology and Antimicrobial Resistance Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Bakteriologi og antimikrobiell resistens
Study programme
Master´s Programme in Health and Technology - Specialisation in Biomedicine
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Empowerment and Health Promotion
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Nutrition Competencies for Health Professionals
Master´s Programme in Pharmacy
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Psychomotor Physiotherapy
Master's Programme in Health Sciences - specialisation in Public Health Nutrition
Master´s Programme in Health and Technology - Specialisation in Radiography
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2025/2026
Curriculum
FALL 2025
Schedule
Programme description
Course history

Introduction

The purpose of this course is to enable students to contribute actively to research in bacterial diagnostics and combating antimicrobial resistance in the health services and society at large. The course provides a broad theoretical basis in medical bacteriology and comprises history, technology and future health-related challenges. Emphasis is placed on the most common bacterial infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance. The introduction of new diagnostic tools in clinical microbiology entails an increasing need for health personnel with extensive knowledge of new areas of application for technology and changed practices. The course therefore also focuses on the relationship between clinical practice, diagnostics and epidemiology to better be able to face future technical changes and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

Recommended preliminary courses

Basic microbiology or infection biology at bachelor’s level.

Required preliminary courses

Students must have been admitted to the Master’s Programme in Health and Technology. The course is also offered as an individual course. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required for admission to individual courses.

Learning outcomes

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

Knowledge

The student

  • can convey advanced knowledge of the clinically most relevant bacteria, their pathogenesis, epidemiology, how they are diagnosed in the lab and how infection spreads in the environment
  • can acquire and convey specialised and updated knowledge of different antimicrobial agents, their mechanisms of action and areas of application
  • can acquire and convey updated knowledge of resistance development, how this is monitored and what measures are taken to counteract it
  • can describe and elaborate on the need to use new technology such as mass spectrometry and next-generation sequencing in diagnostic and epidemiological research
  • can explain general approaches to resistance testing and account for possibilities, limitations and future approaches in diagnostics
  • can account for the global health challenge antibiotic resistance represents

Skills 

The student 

  • can analyse and convey key aspects of different types of source material, such as official national and international recommendations and research literature
  • can apply knowledge from the syllabus, research literature and from the course’s seminars to explain the reasons for the most common infections and how they are diagnosed

General competence  

The student 

  • can discuss complex correlations between epidemiology, clinic and resistance development, and view them in light of local/national guidelines and global sustainable strategies
  • can convey academic points of view and their own independent work, both to specialists in medical microbiology and the general public
  • can comply with ethical research norms and legislation regulating biomedical research in clinical microbiology

Teaching and learning methods

The course consists of several e-learning modules, which include videos, lectures and knowledge tests based on the written syllabus. There will also be four compulsory teaching days where the subject matter will be presented in plenary lectures with subsequent discussions. The sessions also include seminars for student presentations.

In the first session, the students choose their in-depth assignment from a selection of topics, and then work on this independently or in groups until the next and last session. The assignments are presented to the other students as oral or poster presentations.

Course requirements

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

  • minimum attendance of 80% at sessions
  • presentation (poster or lecture) of their own in-depth assignment, individually or in groups of 2-3 students. If the course is taught in English, the presentation must be given in English.

Assessment

Written home exam over 4 days in groups of 2-3 students, up to 3500 words.

The paper can be written in English or a Scandinavian language.

Permitted exam materials and equipment

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grading scale

Grade scale A-F

Examiners

All answers are assessed by one examiner. 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.

Admission requirements

The course is offered as an individual course. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required for admission to the course.

Overlapping courses

10 credits overlap with MABIO5100 Bacteriology and Antimicrobial Resistance.