Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Medical microbiology is medical science which combines the knowledge on microorganisms
physiology and virulence with clinical signs of infections, their pathophysiology and antimicrobial
therapy. The aim of the course is also to show the students how microbiological investigations are
performed and how to interpret their results.
The medical microbiology course includes lectures and laboratory classes. In the beginning of
the course the basic information on microbial physiology, morphology, methods used in
microbiological examinations and antimicrobials will be presented. In the following part of the
course, the general microbiology would be discussed. In the summer semester some informations on
the aetiology, epidemiology, diagnostics and proper antimicrobial treatment of systemic infections
will be delivered. After getting the credits for each semester, students are obligated to pass practical
and written exam.
Teachers:


Aleksander Deptuła, MD, Ph.D.
Tomasz Bogiel, MD, Ph.D.
Contact:
Dr Aleksander Deptuła
a.deptula@cm.umk.pl
Syllabus
I.
Department of Microbiology
II.
Head of the unit: Assoc. Prof. Eugenia Gospodarek, Ph.D.
III.
Faculty of Medicine, Medical Program, 3rd year, 4rth and 5th semester (winter and summer)
IV.
Course coordinator: Aleksander Deptuła, MD, Ph.D.
V.
Form of classes: lectures, laboratory classes
VI.
Form of crediting: Exam, 8 ECTS points
VII.
Number of hours: 30 (lectures), 60 (laboratory classes)
VIII.
Aim of the course:
Lectures
The aim is to present the information on:
classification of microorganisms,
bacterial and fungal cell structure and physiology,
pathogen and host interactions,
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy of infections,
aetiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs and treatment of viral, bacterial and fungal
infections.
Laboratory classess
introduction to microbial physiology, morphology, and their biological properties, as well as hostpathogen interactions,
presentation of disinfection and sterilization methods and prevention of infectious diseases,
introduction to methods used in the microbiological investigation,
presentation of indications for microbiological investigations – due to diagnostical and
epidemiological needs,
presentation of rules for taking samples for microbiological investigations, proper way of
transporting of clinical samples,
familiarization with microbiological investigations and interpretation of its results, and proper use of
their results in the therapeutic process,
introduction to the principles of antimicrobial therapy.
IX.
Topics of lectures / tutorials:
Lectures:
The history of microbiology.
The general microbial characteristics (Procaryota, Eucaryota, Virales).
The taxonomy. Classification and identification of microorganisms.
The microbial morphology. Anatomical structures – their structure, function and significance in
identification of microorganisms. Chemical composition of microorganism.
The microbial physiology. Growth condition, metabolism, reproduction, genetics and genetical
variability of microorganisms.
The microbial pathogenicity, infectivity and toxicity. The pathogenesis of infections.
The influence of physical factors and chemical substancies on microbial biological properties.
Disinfection and sterilization. The overview of disinfectants and antiseptics and their mechanisms of
action. The resistance of microorganisms to disinfectants.
The antimicrobials – classification, groups overwiev, mechanisms of action. Antimicrobial resistance
mechanisms. Methods of antimicrobial resistance testing. The general rules of antimicrobial
treatment.
The basis of infective immunology. Immunological methods used in microbiological investigations.
Immunoprophylaxis and immunotreatment. Vaccines. Immunity sera and immunoglobulines.
The bacteriology. Overwiev of bacteria pathogenic for human.
The virology.
The mycology.
Respiratory tract infections.
Urinary tract infections.
Gastrointestinal tract infections and foodborne diseases.
Sexually transmitted diseases. Intra-uterine and neonatal infections.
Skin, mucosal and eye infections.
Surgical infections.
Infections caused by anaerobic bacteria.
Central nervous system infections.
Bloodstream infections.
The microbiological investigation of autopsical samples.
The diagnostics of infections. Sampling, storage conditions and transporting of clinical specimens for
microbiological investigations.
Hospital acquired infections. Infection prevention and control, epidemiological investigation,
microorganisms typing methods – the role of microbiologist.
Laboratory classes:
The organization of classes. Microbiological laboratory safety rules. The Procaryota cell structure.
Microscopy techniques.
Staining methods and microbial morphology.
Methods used for microbiological investigations (part I).
Methods used for microbiological investigations (part II).
Methods for antimicrobial sensitivity testing.
Methods for detection of antimicrobial resistance and interpreting of antimicrobial sensitivity testing
results.
Test.
The characteristic of the Micrococcaceae family.
The characteristic of the Streptococcaceae family.
Disinfenction and sterilization methods. Visiting the Central Sterilization and DDD department of Dr
A. Jurasz University Hospital in Bydgoszcz.
The characteristics of: Corynebacterium spp., Listeria spp., Haemophilus spp.
The characteristic of sporing bacilli: Bacillus spp. i Clostridium spp.
The anaerobes culture methods. Charactersitics of non-sporing anaerobes: Bacteroides spp.,
Porphyromonas spp.., Prevotella spp., Fusobacterium spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., Peptococcus
spp.
Test.
The microbiological diagnostics of selected spiral bacteria: Helicobacter spp., Campylobacter spp.
The characteristics of the Enterobacteriaceae family (part I: Eschrichia spp., Proteus spp., Klebsiella
spp., Citrobacter spp., Serratia spp., Enterobacter spp.)
The characteristics of the Enterobacteriaceae family (part II: Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Yersinia
spp.)
The characteristics of:: Acinetobacter spp., Stenotrophomonas spp., Burkholderia spp., Pseudomonas
spp., Neisseria spp., Moraxella spp.
Sexually transmitted microorganisms.
The characteristcs of acid-fast microorganisms (Mycobacterium spp.).
The yeasts – methods for detection and identification.
The characteristics of dermatophytes and moulds.
Staff and hospital environment microbiological investigation. Disinfectants efficacy testing.
Tests.
Methods for sampling and transporting clinical samples for microbiological investigation. The human
normal flora.
The diagnostics of respiratory tract infections.
The diagnostics of urinary and gastrointestinal tract infections.
The diagnostics of central nervous system infections. The eye infections.
The skin infections. The diagnostics of bloodstream infections.
The interpretation of microbiological investigation results.
X.
Self-study topics:
-----------
XI.
Booklist:
Murray PR, Rosenthal KS, Pfaller MA: Medical microbiology. MOSBY Elsevier, 2009
XII.
Detailed list of required practical skills and confirmation of completing:
Name:
Year of study:
Group:
Academic year:
Date
Confirmation
of Notes
completing
Recognizing
of
organs
slides
on
normal
human
stained
with
different histological techniques.
Rules and regulations
Organization of classes
1.
The classes are to be held according to the schedule.
2.
Students are not to be late for classes.
3.
The presence at the classes is mandatory. Two absences during one semester may be the
reason of not giving a credit. The absence on laboratory classes does not excuse the student from
possessing the knowledge.
4.
The students have to come for laboratory classes prepared.
5.
The tutor may check if students are prepared for laboratory classes. The form of checking
(written or oral) is up to the tutor.
6.
Not passing each laboratory classes have to be passed again. Each student can pass each
class only twice. Students which won’t have all classes passed will not be able to write test, and it is
equivalent with getting an unsatisfactory mark.
7.
The students may pass again each test only once. Not passing the first test in the semester
until the second test is to be held will not be allowed to write it.
Safety instructions
1.
Students must not bring with them any coats, umbrellas, bags, hats, etc. for the laboratory
classes.
2.
Students should avoid any situations which may cause danger: long hairs should be braced,
too long nails should be cut and there should be no jewelery on hands etc.
3.
During the classes the students must wear lab coats which can be found in the classroom.
The coats must be buttoned up.
4.
During the classes the students must stay calm, use all the equipment carefully in order not
to damage anything and should always listen to the tutor.
5.
Each student is responsible for his lab place.
6.
The tutor should be informed by the students on every case of damaging anything or injury
during the classes.
7.
etc.).
The students must not take anything with them from the classes (the cultures, slides, coats
The terms of crediting classes in case of excused absence
1.
Crediting classes in case of excused absence is possible only theoretically, not more than two
classes in each semester, the tutor may ask student to perform also some practical skills which were
thought during the laboratory classes.
Terms and forms of the tests
1.
The writing tests are performed according to the schedule.
Form and conditions of crediting the subject
1.
Students will get a credit on the basis of: presence on the classes, positive mark from the
tutor (the average counted from lab classes and tests) and lack of offence against safety instructions.
2.
Not getting a credit from laboratory classes requires passing an additional test. Students may
take up this test only once.
3.
In case of any problems the decision will be made individually by the head of the Department
of Microbiology.
4.
The credit is given by the head of the unit.
Final exam
1.
After getting the credit students pass final exam (summer semester). The final exam consists
of practical and written part.
2.
For the practical exam students must be prepared from all subjects from laboratory classes
and know some practical skills required for understanding the principles of microbiological
investigations.
3.
During the practical exam, students obtain notes, which point value is added to the total
points obtained during the theoretical exam. The point values are: 3,0 – 0 pkt.
•
3,5 – 0 pts
•
4,0 – 1 pts
•
4,5 – 2 pts
•
5,0 – 3 pts
4.
The theoretical part of the final exam is a written test.
5.
The final test consists of 60 questions. For each correct answer, students obtain one point.
6.
The students must get 36 points (60%) from practical and theoretical part.
7.
The marks will be given according to the ranges.
9.
Students which achieve the average mark from all laboratory classes and tests at least 4,5
won’t have to pass the final exam. In case of the average at least 4,0 students won’t have to pass the
practical exam and will obtain 5 extra points during the final test.
10.
Failing the theoretical or practical part of the final exam is equivalent with getting an
unsatisfactory note.
11.
Failing the theoretical part of the exam requires passing only this part during the repeat
exam.
12.
The absence during the exam (practical or/and theoretical) is equivalent with obtaining
unsatisfactory note, if the student will not deliver the medical certificate during three working days
after the exam.
In other cases, not mentioned above all regulations are made on the basis of Rules of Studies of the
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun.
The head of the
Department of Microbiology
Assoc. Prof. Eugenia Gospodarek, Ph.D.