Overview
This unit will provide you with evidence based learning and practice to maximise your diagnostic capabilities for the accurate detection, identification and management of infectious diseases of humans. This unit will provide you with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of infectious diseases, the laboratory identification of causative pathogens as well as their pathogenicity and epidemiology. The unit will also include provision of the skills necessary to undertake common practical laboratory processes in clinical bacteriology.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: MBIO19012 Microbiology BIOL12106 Molecular Biology
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student Feedback
Improve assessment return and feedback
Review assessment submission dates and residential school dates to avoid time clashes for students and markers.
- Discuss the clinical significance and laboratory detection of bacterial commensal flora, pathogens and opportunistic pathogens of each of the human body systems
- Appraise the use of molecular techniques for identifying bacteria causing human disease
- Use practical skills to isolate, identify and test the basic antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria
- Discuss the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria
- Apply appropriate quality control processes for the practice of bacteriology.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 35% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 15% | |||||
| 3 - Online Test - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 35% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 15% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Online Test - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology 14th Ed
Edition: 14th (2016)
Authors: Patricia M Tile
Elsevier
ISBN: 9780323354820
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
If you prefer to study with a paper copy, they can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code). eBooks can be purchased at the publisher's website.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
p.strappe@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Staphylococci/
Streptococci
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapters 13 and 14 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture
Welcome to the unit and an overview of the subject content , learning materials and assessments
Module/Topic
Aerobic Gram positive bacilli/
Filamentous Gram positive bacilli
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapters 15,16, 17 and 18 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture and Zoom Tutorial on week 1 content
Module/Topic
Enterobacteriaceae /
Pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapter 19 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture and Zoom Tutorial on week 3 content
Module/Topic
Oxidase positive Gram negative bacilli/
Facultative Gram negative bacilli
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapters 20 21, 22, 25, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture and Zoom Tutorial on week 2 content
Module/Topic
Gram negative cocci - Moraxella catarrhalis and Neisseriaceae/ Anaerobes
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapters 39, 40 and 41 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture and Zoom Tutorial on week 4 content
Module/Topic
Individual study time
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mycobacteria/
Spirochaetes, Mycoplasmas & Ureaplasma, Chlamydiae and Rickettsiae
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapters 42, 43, 44, and 45 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture and Zoom Tutorial on week 5 content
Module/Topic
Urinary tract infections
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapter 72 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture and Zoom Tutorial on week 6 content
Module/Topic
Eye, ear, nose and throat & respiratory tract infections
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapters 68, 69 and 71 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture and Zoom Tutorial on week 7 content
Rapid Diagnostic Assays in Clinical Microbiology Due: Week 8 Monday (7 Sept 2020) 11:55 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Skin, soft tissue and wound infections
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapter 75 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture and Zoom Tutorial on week 8 content
Module/Topic
Genital tract infections and Gastrointestinal tract infections
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapters 73 and 74 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture and Zoom Tutorial on week 9 content
Module/Topic
Infections of sterile sites / Automation and molecular testing
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapters 76, 72, 77 and 8 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture and Zoom Tutorial on week 10 content
Module/Topic
Testing for antimicrobial susceptibility
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
Chapter 11 (14th Ed)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded Lecture and Zoom Tutorial on week 11 content
Module/Topic
Revision
Chapter
Bailey and Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology
All Chapters
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial on week 12 content and revision
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Due to COVID-19, the dates for the Residential School(s) are yet to be set. You will be advised of these dates via the Moodle forum/site.
Your unit coordinator for BMSC12011 is Dr Padraig Strappe. You can contact me using the forum on the unit's Moodle site or alternatively through email (p.strappe@cqu.edu.au) or on 07 4930 6499. The forum for this unit is continuously monitored and you can expect a response within 24 hours of posting your question.
1 Practical Assessment
Due the
The laboratory practical assignment to learn and perform a comprehensive range of bacteriological techniques and compliment the theoretical knowledge of diagnostic microbiology.
Due to COVID19 restrictions, the exact dates of the Residential school are yet to be announced
Students will undertake analysis of cases in clinical microbiology , designed to mimic true diagnostic microbiology laboratory cases and they will subsequently be required to document their observations and findings in a laboratory manual which will be provided on the Unit Moodle Site. A detailed marking rubric for the laboratory practical assessment will be available on the unit moodle site
Students will be assessed on the accuracy and interpretation of their laboratory investigations of the bacterial identification, staining and antimicrobial resistance of the cases provided. This assessment will be performed by use of a workbook for recording laboratory investigations and mock laboratory report for each case.
Weighting
35%
- Use practical skills to isolate, identify and test the basic antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria
- Apply appropriate quality control processes for the practice of bacteriology.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
This assessment is an opportunity to research in further detail the application of assays based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) for specific bacterial pathogen detection in terms of diagnostic technology.
The application of these two assays to the clinical microbiology laboratory has revolutionized diagnosis in terms of speed and enhanced specificity. In this assessment you will choose one group of clinically significant bacteria for example, Staphylococci, Streptococci, Salmonella, E.Coli, Pseudomonas (A complete list will be available on the Moodle site) and complete a 1500 to 2000 word literature review on the application of PCR and MALDI-TOF technology in detection of these pathogens.
You will also be required to provide a background on the pathogenecity of your chosen bacterium and on the technical development of PCR and MALDI-TOF.
To achieve this you will need to.
1: Choose a specific bacterium from a list of clinically relevant bacteria which will be available on the Moodle site. If you are unsure of the suitability of your choice for this assessment, please consult with the unit coordinator. A comprehensive explanation of the defining features of each of the bacteria will be available through the learning materials provided during Week 2.
2: Research the literature relevant to your chosen bacterium. Scientific journal articles should form the basis for this literature search.
3: Prepare a 1500-2000 literature review summarizing the application of both PCR and MALDI-TOF in detection of the bacterium protein, with appropriate citation to your sources of literature
Week 8 Monday (7 Sept 2020) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 10 Monday (21 Sept 2020)
The literature review will be evaluated in accordance with the detailed marking rubric available on the unit Moodle site.
A brief overview of the assessment criteria are as follows;
A total of 100 marks will be available for the assessment
1: 40 marks for the scientific content which demonstrates a clear understanding of pathogenicity of the bacterium, the underlying technology behind PCR and MALDI-TOF, and the application of these techniques to clinical diagnosis.
2: 40 marks for a comprehensive discussion of the sensitivities of the two assays , comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each assay
3: 10 marks for overall layout and organisation of the literature review
4: 10 marks for the appropriate use of references and formatting of the reference list. Weighting 15%
- Discuss the clinical significance and laboratory detection of bacterial commensal flora, pathogens and opportunistic pathogens of each of the human body systems
- Appraise the use of molecular techniques for identifying bacteria causing human disease
- Discuss the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
3 Online Test
The online test will be performed through the moodle site and will comprise of a combination of short answer and long answer questions.
The online test will be mark according to a marking rubric for each test
- Discuss the clinical significance and laboratory detection of bacterial commensal flora, pathogens and opportunistic pathogens of each of the human body systems
- Appraise the use of molecular techniques for identifying bacteria causing human disease
- Discuss the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
