Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PAT1500

 
TITLE Microbiology and Immunology

 
UM LEVEL 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Pathology

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit provides an introduction to the study of microbiology and immunology of relevance to dental practice. Microbiology topics include general bacterial morphology and taxonomy, lectures on specific common bacteria, infection control and virology. Immunology covers basic concepts of immunology, autoimmunity and immune deficiency. There is particular emphasis on oral infections and immune mediated diseases.

Study-unit Aims:

The aims of the study-unit are:
1. To provide basic knowledge of microbiology as a foundation for understanding the natural history of oral infections;
2. To provide basic knowledge on the function of the immune system and its role in preventing and controlling oral inflammatory conditions;
3. To outline the role of the laboratory in the diagnosis and management of microbiological disease;
4. To explain the principles of disease prevention both in the community and in the hospital setting.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
1. Discuss bacterial and viral classification;
2. Describe bacterial and viral morphology and growth;
3. Discuss the modes of transmission of infectious disease;
4. Discuss microbial pathogenicity;
5. Outline the basic concepts of infection control;
6. Name the aetiological agents of oral infectious diseases and their infectivity;
7. Discuss the prevention and management of serious oral infection;
8. Discuss immune responses in healthy and immunosuppressed patients.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
1. Classify the important oral pathogenic micro-organisms;
2. Identify risk factors for infectious disease;
3. Identify correct methods of sample selection & collection for reaching a diagnosis;
4. Recognise common oral infectious and inflammatory conditions;
5. Recognise manifestations of systemic inflammatory conditions in the head & neck;
6. Indicate the vaccination schedule used locally;
7. Describe the methods used for disinfection and sterilization and universal safety precautions;
8. Describe the management of oral disease in immunosuppressed patients.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Reading List:
1. Lecture Notes: Medical Microbiology and Infection, Tom Elliott et al, 5th Edition, ISBN-10: 1444334354, ISBN-13: 978-1444334654, Blackwell, 2011.
or
2. Notes on Medical Microbiology (Paperback), C McCartney, B Thakker, KN Ward, 2nd Edition, ISBN-10: 0443102848, ISBN-13: 978-0443102844, Churchill Livingstone, 2008.
and
3. Muir's Textbook of Pathology, Edited by DA Levison, R Reid, AD Burt, DJ Harrison and S Fleming. 14th Edition ISBN 9780340740620, Hodder Arnold, 2008. (Chapters 2 & 19)

Reference textbook:
Robbins Basic Pathology, V Kumar, A K Abbas, J Aster, 9th Edition, ISBN-10: 1437717810 ISBN-13: 978-1437717815, Saunders, 2012.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Multiple Choice Questions Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Rodianne Abela
Christopher Barbara
Michael Angelo Borg
Claire Marantidis Cordina
Peter Zarb

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit