03437 - Bacteriology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student possesses a basic preparation in Microbiology, with particular attention to the bacteriological field; the student will be familiar with the basic characteristics of bacteria, their main morphological and replicative characteristics as well as the main pathogenetic mechanisms. Particular attention will be paid to the paths to be used for the diagnosis of infection.

Course contents

General information on infectious diseases; endogenous and exogenous infections, transmission routes of exogenous infections, nosocomial infections, infection / disease relationship: dynamics of the infectious process in exogenous infections, host defense mechanisms, opportunistic infections.

Bacteria: Morphology of bacteria, Organization of the bacterial cell, the outer envelopes of Gram positive, Gram negative and alcohol-acid resistant bacteria; Bacteria stainings; bacterial growth and replication; Cultivation of bacteria; Bacteria pathogenicity; bacterial genetics.

Laboratory diagnosis of bacterial infections.

Direct diagnosis: microscopic and cultural examination; phenotipic and molecular methods of identification. Indirect diagnosis: serological and immunological tests

Example of a diagnostic path: blood cultures.

Antibacterial drugs and resistance mechanisms. In vitro sensitivity tests.Surveillance of carbapenemase-producing enterobacteria and superbags.

Bacteria of clinical interest:

Staphylococci, Streptococci, Enterobacteria, Pseudomonas, Mycobacteria, Neisserie, Spore-forming bacteria (Bacillus and Clostridium), Helicobacter, Corinebacteria, Chlamydia, Legionella, anaerobic bacteria.

Recognition of bacteria on culture media

Disease summary by district

 

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica -per i corsi di laurea in professioni sanitarie-R. Cevenini, V. Sambri, Ed Piccin

Teaching methods

In-class lectures will be supported by video projector and PC.

Assessment methods

Oral examination

Teaching tools

In-class lectures will be supported by Power Point slides. Slides will be online available at the end of each lecture. The teaching material is available at

https://virtuale.unibo.it by using student's username and password

Office hours

See the website of Paola Dal Monte