MLAB 2434
Microbiology
Upper & Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Learning Objectives
At the end of this unit, the student will be able to:
1. Describe the basic anatomy of the respiratory tract and explain
the mechanical defenses of each anatomic site and how
alterations to these sites may lead to infectious diseases.
2. Define the importance of normal flora in the respiratory tract
and explain how alterations in the normal flora may lead to
infectious disease.
3. Name 5 organisms considered to be normal flora of the upper
respiratory tract.
4. Discuss the basic pathogenic mechanisms of infectious diseases
of the respiratory tract and the virulence factors of the
organisms that cause disease.
5. Describe the most common organisms that cause disease in
various upper and lower tract infections.
6. Describe the pathogenesis, risk factors and complications
associated with respiratory tract infections as well as types of
specimens collected for diagnosis.
7. List the risk factors in immunocompromised hosts that
predispose to infections and provide examples of respiratory
tract diseases in different types of immunocompromised hosts.
8. Describe the principles and methods of proper specimen
collection and transport of respiratory specimens.
9. Discuss the importance of visual examination and proper
culturing of respiratory samples.
10. Define colonization.
11. Recognize types of emerging infections.
12. Discuss the treatment of otitis media.
13. Predict a possible pathogen from the respiratory tract based on
gram stain, biochemical tests and colony morphology.
14. Evaluate and determine sputum acceptability.
15. Describe the clinical picture of SARS.
2/5/16