Learning objectives
To enable the acquisition of basic knowledge of bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses of medical interest and to understand their interactions with the host and their pathogen role, on the antimicrobial resistence mechanisms on hospital-acquired. The course allows the student to apply the knowledge and understanding gained in the professional future.
Prerequisites
Sufficient knowledge of biology, anatomy, biochemistry and physiology are needed to address the topics of the course.
Course unit content
General characteristics of prokaryotic cell. Diagnosis of bacterial infection diseases. Main bacteria responsible for infectious diseases in humans.
Nursing microbiological issues: healthcare-related infections, Clostridium difficile infections, pre-analytic sampling, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance.
General and special Virology. General characteristics of fungi and parasites. The main human fungal infections.
Full programme
GENERAL BACTERIOLOGY
- Structure of the bacterial cell (wall, outer membrane, plasma membrane, nucleus, DNA and plasmid, flagella, pili or fimbriae, capsule and spore);
- Metabolism of the bacterial cell;
- gene transfer mechasnisms: conjugation, trasformation, trasduction
- microorganism-guest relation and type of infections
VIROLOGY
Generality
- viral replication
- viral pathogenesis
- HIV
- Viral hepatitis
- The SARS COV-2 virus
MICROBIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF infective
diseases
- Direct, indrect and rapid diagnosis
- Urinary tract infections: sampling, pre-analytic an principal pathogens
- Gastrointestinal infections: sampling, pre-analytic an principal pathogens
- upper and lower respiratory tract infections: sampling, pre-analytic an principal pathogens
- bloodstream infections: sampling, pre-analytic an principal pathogens
- central nervous system infections: sampling, pre-analytic an principal pathogens
MICROBIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
- Antibiotic resistant bacteria
- healthcare related infections
- The Clostridum difficile disease
- The sentinel germs
Bibliography
- M. La Placa - Principi di microbiologia clinica, XIII edizione – Ed. Esculapio
Teaching methods
According to the regulation of the Italian Government and the University of Parma about the COVID-19 pandemics, the present course is realized with frontal lessons via mixed in-presence and at-distance
modality. In particular, the teacher takes lessons in the classroom with the help of PC (Powerpoint slides) ;
simultaneous connection of the PC to the Teams platform in streaming modality ensures connection with
students not present in the classroom. Each lesson is registered and loaded in the Elly portal of the course,
together with the slides.
Assessment methods and criteria
Learning outcomes will be verified through an oral examination. Questions on the topics relating to the course will be used to test knowledge and understanding of the student in the scientific discipline, and her/his ability to apply such knowledge and understanding in occupational contexts. In case the COVID-related sanitary emergence continues, the examination will proceed on the Teams
platform (see the guidelines at the address: http://selma.unipr.it/).
Other information
The teacher is available for further explanations in office or by distance via Teams after e-mail appointment, or via chat on Elly platform.
