Clinical MicrobiologyLaajuus (9 ECTS)

Objective

Students perform and interpret microbial identification tests, justifying their actions and using the most common analysis methods at clinical bacteriology, mycology, parasitology and virology laboratories. They explain the organisation of infection control in Finland and the legislation governing microbiological laboratory activities, including authorisation procedures.

Content

General microbiology: Roles of clinical microbiology in society, infection epidemiology and organisation of infection control in Finland. Legislation governing communicable diseases, authorisation of microbiological laboratory activities and obligation to report findings. Key infectious diseases in terms of laboratory activities and prevention of microbial diseases through inoculation.

Clinical bacteriology: Theoretical foundations of sampling in clinical microbiology, laboratory diagnostics of the most significant aerobic bacteria in clinical terms, analysis methods in bacterial genetics; determination of sensitivity to antibiotics, bacterial strains causing nosocomial infections.
Clinical parasitology: Foundations of taking parasitological samples, methods of analysing the most common parasites found at Finnish laboratories, identification of faecal and blood parasites.

Clinical mycology: Foundations of taking fungal samples, cultivation of fungi on culture media, laboratory diagnostics of yeast and filamentous fungi, antimycotic drug studies on yeasts.

Clinical virology and infection immunology: Key laboratory tests in infection immunology and autoimmune diseases; taking, handling and transporting virological samples. From cell cultures to viral cultures, methods of molecular genetics in virology, antibody tests, antigen detection methods, utilisation of fluorescence in test methods.

Qualifications

Prerequisites: Cell Biology and Genetics; Genetic Studies; Immunology; Clinical Biochemistry; Clinical Haematology; Laboratory Techniques, Supplies and Working Methods

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Students perform and interpret microbial identification tests, justifying their actions and using the most common analysis methods at clinical bacteriology, mycology, parasitology and virology laboratories. They explain the organisation of infection control in Finland and the legislation governing microbiological laboratory activities, including authorisation procedures.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Students perform key clinical bacteriology, virology, mycology and parasitology tests, explaining the principles of the methods with justifications, and assess the significance of results well on the basis of background information.
Students explain the pre-analytical requirements of the most common clinical microbiology tests and the structures, products and pathogenesis of the micro-organisms most commonly found in samples as well as the clinical significance of infection to a good standard on the basis of background information.
Students operate and service equipment, justifying their actions.
They are able to explain the quality system and authorisation procedures in clinical microbiology to a good standard.
They attend to sample and occupational safety to a good standard.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Students perform key clinical bacteriology, virology, mycology and parasitology tests, explaining the principles of the methods with excellent justifications, and assess the significance of results critically on the basis of background information.
Students explain the pre-analytical requirements of the most common clinical microbiology tests and the structures, products and pathogenesis of the micro-organisms most commonly found in samples as well as the clinical significance of infection extensively on the basis of background information.
Students operate and service equipment, justifying their actions to an excellent standard.
They are able to explain the quality system and authorisation procedures in clinical microbiology in considerable detail.
They attend to sample and occupational safety to an excellent standard.