Medical Bacteriology and Mycology is a core discipline within Medical Microbiology that focuses on the study of bacteria and fungi of medical importance. These microorganisms are major causes of infectious diseases worldwide and contribute significantly to patient morbidity, mortality, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and healthcare-associated infections. Understanding their biology, pathogenic mechanisms, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention is essential for modern clinical practice, public health, infection prevention and control (IPC), and antimicrobial stewardship.
The course provides advanced knowledge of the taxonomy, physiology, genetics, virulence factors, and host-pathogen interactions of clinically important bacterial and fungal pathogens. Students will explore the microbiological characteristics of major bacterial groups, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, acid-fast bacilli, anaerobes, atypical bacteria, and emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens. The mycology component covers medically important yeasts, molds, dimorphic fungi, and opportunistic fungal pathogens responsible for superficial, subcutaneous, and invasive fungal infections.
A major emphasis of the course is the laboratory diagnosis of bacterial and fungal infections. Students will gain theoretical and practical competencies in specimen collection, culture techniques, microscopy, staining methods, pathogen identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), antifungal susceptibility testing, molecular diagnostics, serological methods, quality assurance, and biosafety practices. The course also introduces modern diagnostic technologies, including automated microbial identification systems, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and genomic approaches used in clinical microbiology laboratories.
The course highlights the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales, carbapenem-resistant organisms, and invasive fungal pathogens resistant to commonly used antifungal agents. Students will examine the epidemiology, surveillance, prevention, and control strategies required to mitigate these public health threats.
Through lectures, laboratory practical sessions, seminars, case studies, and independent learning activities, students will develop critical thinking skills necessary for interpreting microbiological data and applying laboratory findings to patient care and public health decision-making. At the end of the course, students will be able to identify clinically important bacterial and fungal pathogens, apply appropriate diagnostic methods, interpret laboratory results, evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility data, and contribute effectively to infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and infectious disease management programs.
Medical Bacteriology and Mycology provides a strong foundation for advanced study, research, and professional practice in clinical microbiology, infectious diseases, public health microbiology, and biomedical sciences, preparing graduates to address contemporary challenges in infectious disease diagnosis, surveillance, and control.
The course is designed to provide essential quantitative concepts, methods, and tools needed for descriptive and analytical research and design of a study protocol in biomedical sciences. It also covers human subject ethics principles and aim at helping students to identify and address ethical, legal and social implications of their research.
Medical Virology aims to provide master’s students in clinical microbiology with advanced knowledge of human viruses and viral diseases that affect public health and clinical practice. The course focuses on the structure, classification, replication, pathogenesis, epidemiology, laboratory diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of viral infections.
It also equips students with the skills to identify and interpret virological laboratory tests, understand molecular diagnostic techniques, and apply virological knowledge in clinical management, infection control, and outbreak surveillance. By the end of the course, students should be able to integrate virology, immunology, and molecular biology in the diagnosis and monitoring of viral diseases in clinical laboratories.