Introduction

Introduction to Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Co-Directors: Jeffrey N. Weiser, M.D. Department of Microbiology Robert W. Doms, M.D., Ph.D. Pathologist-in-Chief Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia

Introduction Goals of the Course We will concentrate on the clinically most important bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic diseases. Prions will also be covered. For each infectious agent, you should be acquainted with basic information on its: Physiology and Structure Pathogenesis and Immunity Epidemiology Clinical Diseases Laboratory Diagnosis Treatment, Prevention and Control Course Organization The first half of the course will cover bacteria (as well as a single lecture on parasites), while the second half will cover viruses and a single lecture on fungi. Each section has 2 to 3 background lectures that cover fundamental bacteriology and virology. This will be a partial review for anyone who has taken a microbiology course. In addition, the most important pathogens get their own lectures: Staph, Strep, Influenza, TB, HIV/AIDS, and the Herpes viruses. Other pathogens are discussed in the context of organ systems (things that afflict the liver, the GI system, the respiratory tract, the CNS) or patient cohort (diseases of childhood). The course has five small group sessions that will concentrate on clinical issues,. We have four review sessions: Antibiotics II. You get the antibiotics lecture this Thursday, followed by all of the bacteriology lectures over the next month. We will then have a second antiotics lecture that will function as a review. Bacteriology Review. This is a set of multiple choice questions, and we will post a powerpoint set that has these slides as well as the answers. Thus, you can either attend the review session itself, or review this information on your own when you feel you are ready. When you open the file, the first slide will have question 1, the next slide will have the answer with some explanation, and so forth. Students in prior years suggested that we take this approach so that they could take the review when they are ready. Virology Review. This is set up like the Bacteriology review - you can look at the questions at the end of Volume 2. Since this review comes at the end of the course, we will do it live, but the powerpoint file (with answers) will also be posted, so you can take the review when you want. Microbiology to Music. Helen Davies has done this for many years - we know it sounds corny, but it has historically been among the most popular lectures given in the course (average student score of 4.55 over the past 3 years). Helen's songs are nationally famous - I even hear one of them on NPR while driving home one day!

Introduction

How to study for this course. We cover alot of material in a rather short period of time, so there is much to learn . However, you will revisit much of this material during your organ blocks, when common infectious agents (and their treatments) for each system are reviewed, and then we have a second micro/ID class in the fall of year 2. The minimal goal would be to learn something about each of the six points (below) for the most important infectious agents: Physiology and Structure Pathogenesis and Immunity Epidemiology Clinical Diseases Laboratory Diagnosis Treatment, Prevention and Control

We can see three ways to study this: 1. Just use the notes. The notes for this class are often cited by students as being the best in Module I, and they get better (and more consistent) each year. The notes are keyed to the slides, and many key points are highlighted in some way. We also provide review materials in your iPad package: Summary notes: condensed summary notes on bacteria and viruses. Spreadsheets: Chen Yan (who took the course three years ago) prepared excellent Excel sheets that summarize key points about each bacterial and viral pathogen these are provided to you 2. Use the Notes and buy Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple. This costs about $32, and last year about 35 student bought this book. This is a condensed review book, though not short (about 380 pages, but the pages are not that dense). It has lots of cartoons and mnemonics, and the chapters are based on infectious agents rather than by organ system. This has been the most popular book used by our students in past years (for those who used a book). Of those who bought it last year, 37% said it was very useful, 41% said it was somewhat useful, and the remainder felt it was not useful. 3. Use the Notes and buy Medical Microbiology by Murray et al. This is the book we use to set the level of detail for each lecture in the course - when I go over another faculty member's lecture, we use this book to help write the notes. It is nicely written and provides more explanations than dos the Ridiculously Simple book, but only get this if you find micro/ID particularly interesting. You can check both books out the library, or ask the second years to check out their copies. Course evaluation.

Introduction There are two lectures: one right before Thanksgiving that covers bacteriology and parasites, and one at the end of the semester that covers virology and fungi. In addition, some of the more clinically based questions in the virology lecture have answers that do include bacteria. For example, if given a patients history, physical exam and lab findings, you may be asked what agent is most likely to be responsible for the patients symptoms. You wont be asked detailed bacteriology questions on Exam II, but clinical integration is fair game. Why bother with this course? Well, you do need to pass. Also, there are micro questions on Part 1 of the boards. More practically, of course, is the fact that infectious diseases are truly major causes of morbidity and mortality in the US, and even more so in developing countries. The slide lists some facts, and I can overwhelm you with data, but suffice it to say that a large minority of patients at HUP are treated for infections, and there are more than 1 million people in the US chronically infected with HIV, HBV and 3 million chronically infected with Hepatitis C. TB infects one-third of all the people in the world! Dengue and malaria infect more than 100 million people each year; there are 1.4 million STDs in the US each year, and infectious diseases are the second leading cause of death in the US. Finally, your family will expect you to prescribe them antibiotics upon demand!