ID:
SCV0726
Durata (ore):
48
CFU:
6
SSD:
MICROBIOLOGIA E MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
Anno:
2025
Dati Generali
Periodo di attività
Secondo Semestre (24/02/2026 - 20/06/2026)
Syllabus
Obiettivi Formativi
Course aims
• Provide a comprehensive overview of major infectious agents relevant to human health (bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses).
• Teach and practice standard laboratory workflows and safe handling of clinical specimens.
• Introduce modern diagnostic technologies and critical appraisal of their applications and limits.
• Develop students’ ability to integrate laboratory data with clinical presentations to support diagnosis and patient management.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
• Plan and justify appropriate laboratory investigations for major infectious syndromes, including specimen type, collection method and transport conditions.
• Demonstrate safe specimen handling and adherence to BSL-2 biosafety procedures in routine laboratory tasks.
• Perform and interpret Gram stains, basic culture results and core biochemical identification tests.
• Explain the principles of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (disk diffusion, MIC), interpret AST reports using current clinical breakpoints and have a basic knowledge of the key mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance (e.g., MRSA, VRE, ESBLs, carbapenemases) and their implications for therapy and infection control.
• Describe laboratory approaches for mycobacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral diagnosis and evaluate strengths/limitations of NAATs, antigen and serologic assays.
• Communicate laboratory results, limitations and recommended next steps clearly and concisely in written reports and oral presentations.
• Critically appraise contemporary literature on diagnostic innovations and apply evidence to diagnostic decision-making.
• Provide a comprehensive overview of major infectious agents relevant to human health (bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses).
• Teach and practice standard laboratory workflows and safe handling of clinical specimens.
• Introduce modern diagnostic technologies and critical appraisal of their applications and limits.
• Develop students’ ability to integrate laboratory data with clinical presentations to support diagnosis and patient management.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
• Plan and justify appropriate laboratory investigations for major infectious syndromes, including specimen type, collection method and transport conditions.
• Demonstrate safe specimen handling and adherence to BSL-2 biosafety procedures in routine laboratory tasks.
• Perform and interpret Gram stains, basic culture results and core biochemical identification tests.
• Explain the principles of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (disk diffusion, MIC), interpret AST reports using current clinical breakpoints and have a basic knowledge of the key mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance (e.g., MRSA, VRE, ESBLs, carbapenemases) and their implications for therapy and infection control.
• Describe laboratory approaches for mycobacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral diagnosis and evaluate strengths/limitations of NAATs, antigen and serologic assays.
• Communicate laboratory results, limitations and recommended next steps clearly and concisely in written reports and oral presentations.
• Critically appraise contemporary literature on diagnostic innovations and apply evidence to diagnostic decision-making.
Prerequisiti
Basic cellular biology, molecular biology and immunology (undergraduate level) knowledge
Metodi didattici
12 lectures, four hours each
Verifica Apprendimento
• Individual microorganism presentation - 50% (15-20 minute presentation + Q&A)
• Final oral exam - 50%
• Final oral exam - 50%
Contenuti
Module 1 - Introduction & Biosafety: lab role in clinical care, pre-analytical variables, specimen labelling/transport, BSL-2 practice, quality assurance.
Module 2 - Bacteriology: Gram stain interpretation; colony morphology; selective media; biochemical test panels and identification algorithms; MALDI-TOF MS principles, sample prep and interpretation; sequence-based ID.
Module 3 - Bacterial syndromes: diagnostic algorithms for bloodstream, respiratory, urinary, gastrointestinal, skin/soft tissue and CNS infections; distinguishing contamination vs true pathogen.
Module 4 - AST & resistance: disk diffusion and MIC concepts; inoculum standardization; EUCAST/CLSI breakpoint interpretation; automated systems; molecular detection of key resistance genes; clinical implications and stewardship
Module 5 - Mycobacteriology: acid-fasting bacteria staining, culture systems, NAATs for M. tuberculosis complex, NTM identification and safety considerations, principles of drug susceptibility testing.
Module 6 - Mycology: yeast vs molds identification, histopathology, antigen tests (cryptococcal antigen, galactomannan), MALDI-TOF and molecular approaches, antifungal resistance issues.
Module 7 - Parasitology: diagnostic approaches for blood and intestinal parasites (microscopy, concentration techniques, antigen tests, NAAT), lifecycle and specimen selection.
Module 8 - Virology: qualitative vs quantitative NAATs, antigen and serology testing, multiplex respiratory/ GI panels, viral hepatitis and STIs diagnostics, interpretation in immunocompromised hosts.
Module 9 - Syndromic pathways & outbreak basics: point-of-care vs centralized testing, reflex testing, lab reporting and turnaround time, role in outbreak detection and public health response.
Module 10 - Presentations & wrap-up: group case presentations, review of difficult scenarios, discussion on diagnostic innovations and career guidance.
Module 2 - Bacteriology: Gram stain interpretation; colony morphology; selective media; biochemical test panels and identification algorithms; MALDI-TOF MS principles, sample prep and interpretation; sequence-based ID.
Module 3 - Bacterial syndromes: diagnostic algorithms for bloodstream, respiratory, urinary, gastrointestinal, skin/soft tissue and CNS infections; distinguishing contamination vs true pathogen.
Module 4 - AST & resistance: disk diffusion and MIC concepts; inoculum standardization; EUCAST/CLSI breakpoint interpretation; automated systems; molecular detection of key resistance genes; clinical implications and stewardship
Module 5 - Mycobacteriology: acid-fasting bacteria staining, culture systems, NAATs for M. tuberculosis complex, NTM identification and safety considerations, principles of drug susceptibility testing.
Module 6 - Mycology: yeast vs molds identification, histopathology, antigen tests (cryptococcal antigen, galactomannan), MALDI-TOF and molecular approaches, antifungal resistance issues.
Module 7 - Parasitology: diagnostic approaches for blood and intestinal parasites (microscopy, concentration techniques, antigen tests, NAAT), lifecycle and specimen selection.
Module 8 - Virology: qualitative vs quantitative NAATs, antigen and serology testing, multiplex respiratory/ GI panels, viral hepatitis and STIs diagnostics, interpretation in immunocompromised hosts.
Module 9 - Syndromic pathways & outbreak basics: point-of-care vs centralized testing, reflex testing, lab reporting and turnaround time, role in outbreak detection and public health response.
Module 10 - Presentations & wrap-up: group case presentations, review of difficult scenarios, discussion on diagnostic innovations and career guidance.
Lingua Insegnamento
INGLESE
Altre informazioni
Contact information
gabriele.arcari@uninsubria.it
gabriele.arcari@uninsubria.it
Corsi
Corsi
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
Laurea Magistrale
2 anni
No Results Found
Persone
Persone (2)
No Results Found