2019/2020

2020/2021

DM270

MED/07 (MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY)

DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE

MEDICINE AND SURGERY (IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE) (ENGLISH LANGUAGE)

PERCORSO COMUNE

2°

2nd semester (01/03/2021 - 04/06/2021)

4

32 lesson hours

English

WRITTEN TEST

BRUNETTI ENRICO - 1 ECTS
MIGLIAVACCA ROBERTA - 1 ECTS
PIAZZA AURORA - 2 ECTS

The course aims to provide the knowledge of i) the structural characteristics and the physiology of the most important clinically relevant bacterial pathogens, ii) the role of the different microorganisms as causative agents of human infection diseases, iii) the main virulence factors involved in the pathogenesis, iv) the diagnostic methods for the species identification and antimicrobial suceptibility evaluation.

Prof. Piazza (16h)
1. Bacterial structure: most important distinctive components and targets for antimicrobial agents.
2. Bacterial virulence factors (i.e. esotoxins, exoenzymes, siderophores and secretion systems, antibiotic resistance and ability to form biofilm) and main mechanisms involved in infectious diseases pathogenesis; opportunistic versus strict patogens; portals of bacterial entry and diffusion.
3. Bacterial growth curve. Diagnostic of bacterial infectious diseases (traditional versus more rapid, molecular methods): when and why?
4. The bacterial genome: chromosome, plasmids and other replicons. Mechanisms of genetic exchange. How to molecularly detect an outbreak of infection or distinguish a recurrent from a re-infection? Old vs new approaches.
5. Antibiotics classification and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Detection of the most important antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Susceptibility tests (EUCAST guidelines). Empiric versus targeted terapy. Meaning of MDR, XDR, PDR and DTT.
6. Human microbiota composition and importance. Staphilococci: characteristics and associated disease.
7. Clinically relevant Fungi. Yeasts.
Prof. Migliavacca (8h)
1. Streptococci: characteristics and associated diseases. Other important microorganisms involved in pneumonia (Legionella pneumophyla, Micoplasma spp. etc).
2. Enterobacterales: characteristics and associated diseases.
3. Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitisis: characteristics and associated diseases. Bacterial species involved in STD.
4. GNNF of clinical importance; bacterial role in care-associated infections.

Lectures, use of teaching material provided by the teacher, use of one of the recommended textbooks. The teacher is available via e-mail for clarification regarding any critical points that may arise during the exam preparation.

- P.R. Murray, K.S. Rosenthal, M.A. Pfaller; Medical Microbiology, Elsevier
- Sherris; Medical Microbiology, Mc Graw Hill Education
- Janetz, Melnick & Adelberg’s; Medical Microbiology, Mc Graw Hill Lange
- D. Greenwood, R.C.B. Slack, M.R. Barer, W.L. Irving; Medical Microbiology. A Guide to Microbial Infections: Pathogenesis, Immunity, Laboratory Diagnosis and Control