Department of Microbiology
MICR6100 Medical Microbiology
(Candidates taking this Specialised Field of Study should also take the Core Course SBMS7100 Practical Bioinformatics as basic knowledge)
 

Aim(s)

• To improve and sustain a high standard in laboratory practices and management and enhance development in clinical microbiology laboratories in Hong Kong.
• To enhance training in other laboratory science and provide continuous education for technicians, scientists or other health care workers on medical microbiology and infectious diseases.
• To provide structured training to enable postgraduates to embark on specialised research, clinical service or teaching for career and personal development.
• To provide training on current laboratory methods and practices and recent advances related to epidemiology, conventional and molecular diagnostics in medical microbiology and infectious disease, infection control and antimicrobial resistance.
• To provide practical and research experience in medical microbiology and infectious disease.

Contents

Course Code	Courses	Credit Units
MICR6101	Biosafety and handling of infectious waste • Safety management, good work practices, biosafety levels, laboratory acquired infections, transportation of infectious substances/diagnostic specimens and infectious waste management	3
MICR6102	Conventional and molecular techniques in detection and typing of microbial agents • Recent advances in microbial identification techniques and approaches	3
MICR6103	Emerging antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial chemotherapy • New and old antibiotics, mechanism of antimicrobial actions, antibiotic resistance epidemiology, traditional method for detection of resistance and recent advances	3
MICR6104	Infection control and hospital epidemiology • Hand hygiene, standard precautions, outbreak investigation, and infection control issues	3
MICR6105	Laboratory and clinical interphase in infectious diseases • Specimen priority, specimen rejection criteria, cost containment, quality assurance, quality control and automation in a medical microbiology laboratory	3
MICR6106	Virological diagnosis of infectious diseases • Basic methods in virology, clinical applications, rapid tests and biosafety; emerging viral infections: their diagnosis and control 3	3

 Learning outcomes
On completion of these courses, students will be able to:
• write literature reviews and make oral presentations on current laboratory methods and practices related to epidemiology, conventional and molecular diagnostics in medical microbiology and infectious disease, infection control and antimicrobial resistance, to the standard of a Master's degree as assessed by peer students and supervisors.
• describe and discuss current laboratory methods and practices related to epidemiology, conventional and molecular diagnostics in medical microbiology and infectious disease, infection control and antimicrobial resistance, to the standard of a Master's degree as assessed by a written examination.
• carry out a research project related to medical microbiology and infectious diseases.
 

Mode of teaching
Lectures, tutorials and literature review.
 

Assessment
In-course assessment and final examination

Departmental Coordinator
Dr Kelvin To
Tel : 2255 2406
Fax : 2855 1241
Email: kelvinto@hku.hk
 

Deputy Departmental Coordinator
Dr Jade Teng
Tel : 2255 2584
Fax : 2855 1241
Email: llteng@hku.hk
 

Course Secretariat
Miss Phyllis Chow
Tel : 2255 2583
Fax : 2855 1241
Email: micmmeds@hku.hk