Unit Outline

Introduces students to diagnostic medical bacteriology. Skills taught include: processing of clinical specimens, recognition of normal microbiota, identification of pathogens and the undertaking of appropriate antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Students learn: aspects of laboratory safety, epidemiology, pathogenesis and control of infectious diseases; antimicrobial agents and development of resistance; infection control; rapid and automated diagnostic technology; quality control; media preparation and waste management. This unit is co-taught with a related unit to students in the Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine, and although you will be provided with similar knowledge and laboratory skills as these students, you will also undertake additional learning activities and assessment. This is necessary for you to develop and demonstrate the higher level investigatory and communication skills to satisfy the Australian Qualification Framework level 9 requirements of a Master’s degree.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Describe the common infectious diseases of major organ systems and the associated bacterial pathogens.
2.	Describe and discuss the systematic laboratory investigation of common bacterial diseases, and interpret, analyse and evaluate the relevance of laboratory findings to clinical presentation.
3.	Identify common bacterial agents in a mock clinical setting and interpret, analyse and evaluate the relevance of laboratory findings to clinical presentation.
4.	Interpret and evaluate contemporary scientific literature related to bacterial infections and discuss the impact on the routine practice of diagnostic microbiology.
5.	Plan, evaluate, interpret and communicate research activities relevant to the practice of diagnostic microbiology.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA641

Alterations as a result of student feedback

The order of modules has been changed so that antibiotics and susceptibility testing occurs early in the semester and practised throughout the remaining content. An additional regular 1 hr weekly workshop has been added to provide additional face to face contact.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Diagnosis using urinary dipstick tests	Week 4	5 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Mid semester test	Week 5	10 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:	Method evaluation	Week 8	15 %	LO1, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 4:	Examination	Exam Period	35 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 5:	In class quizzes	Refer to Assessment Description	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 6:	Practical exam	Refer to Assessment Description	35 %	LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Diagnosis using urinary dipstick tests

Task Description:

Describe the performance of urinary dipstick tests for the diagnosis of urinary tract infection

Task Length:

1150 words

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

5 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe the biological principle behind dipstick tests in their use to screen for UTIs.	LO2, LO4
2	Explain the meaning of and relationship between sensitivity and NPV and specificity and PPV in the context of UTI screening.	LO2, LO4
3	Briefly describe the reasons behind false positive results for LE and false negative results for the nitrate test.	LO2, LO4
4	Explain the effect of combining the LE and nitrate test on the sensitivity and specificity of the detection of UTIs.	LO2, LO4
5	Explain how use of the LE test is different when applied to women in the ante-natal clinic compared to the general population.	LO1, LO2, LO4
6	Explain how the use of the LE test is different when applied to men in a sexual health clinic when compared to the general population.	LO1, LO2, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Mid semester test

Task Description:

This is a closed book paper-based invigilated test, where you will be required to demonstrate your individual ability to communicate and apply theoretical and practical knowledge. You may take one A4 double sided or two A4 single sided handwritten or typed notes into the test.

Task Length:

50 minutes

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe the common infectious diseases and pathogens.	LO1
2	Describe and discuss the systematic laboratory investigation of common bacterial diseases.	LO2
3	200 Describe and discuss the systematic laboratory investigation of common bacterial diseases.	LO2

Assessment Task 3: Method evaluation

Task Description:

Critically evaluate the experimental design of a laboratory based method evaluation and interpret and communicate the results in a scientifically appropriate manner. Part A due in week 8, Part B due in week 13. See Mylo for full details.

Task Length:

Maximum of 2000 words, including tables and graphs.

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Evaluate the overall experimental design.	LO1, LO4, LO5
2	Identify and evaluate the control procedures in the experiment.	LO5
3	Evaluate the nature and range of source materials used in the experiment.	LO4, LO5
4	Interpretation and communications of results.	LO5

Assessment Task 4: Examination

Task Description:

This is a closed book paper-based invigilated exam, where you will be required to demonstrate your individual ability to communicate and apply theoretical and practical knowledge. You may take one A4 double sided or two A4 single sided handwritten or typed notes into the exam.

Task Length:

3 hours

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe the common infectious diseases and pathogens.	LO1
2	Describe and discuss the systematic laboratory investigation of common bacterial diseases.	LO2
3	Interpret, analyse and evaluate the relevance of laboratory findings to clinical presentation.	LO2

Assessment Task 5: In class quizzes

Task Description:

In class quizzes – multiple choice and short answers. These quizzes are formative and do not contribute to the final mark for the unit. You do not need to pass the quizzes to be eligible for a pass in the unit, however, they will provide you with an indication of your knowledge. There will be five quizzes during the semester.

Task Length:

15 minutes per quiz.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and describe bacterial pathogens of common infectious diseases.	LO1
2	Describe and interpret laboratory investigations and results in the diagnosis of common infectious diseases.	LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 6: Practical exam

Task Description:

Sessions in the micro lab, where you will be required to work through case study material, identify microorganisms appropriate to the clinical context and perform susceptibility tests. This examination is open book and is a hurdle task that you must pass to pass the unit.

Task Length:

Day 1: 3- 4 hours. Day 2: 1 - 2 hours

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate the ability to identify common bacterial agents and interpret, analyse and evaluate the relevance of laboratory findings to clinical presentation.	LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.