62952 COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFECTION CONTROL

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
98	62952 	S1  	X 	COMM DISEASES INFECT CONTR	1.00

Contents

• Staffing
• Pre-requisite(s)
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Recommended References
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details
• Other Requirements

STAFFING:

PRE-REQUISITE(S)

67421

RATIONALE:

This  unit  provides an understanding of microbiology from a  clinical
perspective. Students will acquire a sound foundation in the nature of
the  infectious process, the scope of infections they  are  likely  to
encounter in clinical practice and the basic fundamentals of infection
control practice.

SYNOPSIS:

This  unit  provides an introduction to microbiology  as  relevant  to
infection.   The  nature  of  infections  in  clinical   practice   is
investigated. The unit then deals with the basic concepts of infection
control  practice including: sterilisation and infection, epidemiology
and  prophylaxis,  antimicrobials and chemotherapy,  immunisation,  an
introduction   to   quality  control,  management   and   surveillance
practices, standard precautions and additional precautions.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able
to:

1. outline the nature of microbial pathogenesis in terms of the
   infectious process;
   
2. understand and describe the nature of infections likely to be
   encountered in clinical practice including infections
   associated with a. skin and soft tissues b. the respiratory
   tract c. gastrointestinal tract d. urinogenital system e.
   central nervous system f. bone and joints g. pyrexia of
   unknown origin h. the compromised host i. introduction to
   nosocomial infections;
   
3. Understand and apply basic infection control management
   procedures and protocols, including an understanding of the
   concepts and protocols relating to: a. basic principles and
   practice of infection control including: isolation techniques,
   sterilization, antisepsis and disinfection, isolation
   precautions, management of infectious waste b. colonization
   and nosocomial infections c. prevention of nosocomial
   pneumonia d. prevention of urinary tract infections e.
   investigation of an outbreak of nosocomial infections f.
   management practices in infection control.
   

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

Microbial Pathogenesis                                                30.00
- review of the structure, morphology and physiology of
  bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses
- the significance of endogenous flora
- characteristics of the infectious process
- microbial virulence factors
- the infection process

Clinical Infections                                                   30.00
- skin and soft tissue
- respiratory tract
- gastrointestinal tract
- urinogenital system
- central nervous system
- bone and joints
- Pyrexia of unknown origin
- the compromised host
- introduction to nosocomial infections

Infection control fundamentals                                        40.00
- sterilisation theory
- sterilisation methods
- antisepsis and antiseptics
- disinfection and disinfectants
- disposal of infectious waste
- epidemiology fundamentals
- isolation precautions including: principles and
  practice of standard and additional precautions
- control of nosocomial pneumonia
- control of nosocomial UTIs
- investigation methods during an outbreak of a
  nosocomial infection
- the infection control practitioner fundamentals.

TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

NHRMC & ANCA, 1996, Infection Control in the Healthcare Setting,
AGP, Canberra

Sherris, J.C., 1994, Medical Microbiology: An Introduction to
Infectious Diseases, 3rd edn, ed K.J. Ryan, Appleton and Lange, ISBN
0 8385 8541 8

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Balows, A., 1991, Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 5th edn, ASM

Benjamini, E., Sunshine, G. & Leskowitz, S. 1996, Immunology: A Short
Course, 3rd edn, Wiley-Liss, NY, ISBN 0-471-59791-0

Gardner, J.F. & Peel, M.M. 1991, Introduction to Sterilisation,
Disinfection and Infection Control, 2nd edn, Churchill Livingstone

Inglis, T.J.J. 1996, Microbiology and Infection, Churchill
Livingstone, ISBN 0443 050341

Lee, G. & Bishop, P. 1997, Microbiology and Infection Control for
Health Professionals, Prentice Hall, Sydney

Mandal, B.K., Wilkins, E.G., Dumbar, E.M., & Mayon White, R.T. 1996,
Infectious Diseases 5th edn, Blackwell Science, ISBN 0 632 03351 7

Mandell, G.L. et al, 1995, Principles and Practice of Infectious
Diseases, 4th edn, Churchill Livingstone, USA

NHMRC, 1997, The Australian Immunisation Handbook, 6th edn, AGPS,
Canberra, ISBN 0644 47578 1

Pechenik, J.A. 1993, A Short Guide to Writing About Biology, Harper
Collins

Slater et al, 1993, An Atlas of Medical Microbiology, 2nd edn,
Topman Printing Press

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Directed Study                                	70
Private Study                                 	100

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL WWW
1   S              17/04/98  ASSIGNMENT 1 (1500 WORD ESSAY)            30.00     Y   N
2   S              26/06/98  ASSIGNMENT 2 (5000 WORD ESSAY)            70.00     Y   N

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    The  pass  for  the unit is 50% of the total marks, provided  the
     student also gains a satisfactory standard in assignment 2.
2    In accordance with University Policy and Guidelines,
2.1  an  Examiner  may  grant  an extension of  the  due  date  of  an
     assignment in extenuating circumstances;
2.2  no  assignments  will be accepted for assessment  purposes  after
     assignments  or  model  solutions have been  released  except  in
     extenuating circumstances;
2.3  assignments  submitted after the due date without any extenuating
     circumstances  will  attract a penalty of  at  most  20%  of  the
     assigned mark for each working day late;
2.4  students who submit an assignment after the due date and wish  to
     claim   extenuating   circumstances,  must  provide   documentary
     evidence with the assignment explaining the circumstances;
2.5  the   unit  examiner  shall  consider  a  claim  for  extenuating
     circumstances and decide on the outcome;
2.6  the  decision of the Dean shall be final in any dispute that  may
     arise in the implementation of these guidelines.