Clinical Microbiology Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Course

MLAB-2434-001 Clinical Microbiology

Prerequisites

Course Description

Instruction in the theory, practical application, and pathogenesis of clinical microbiology, including collection, quality control, quality assurance, safety, setup, identification, susceptibility testing and reporting results.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(4 sem hrs; 2 lec, 6 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology by Connie R. Mahon, Donald C. Lehman and George Manuselis Lippincott, 2019, ISBN: 978-0323089890 (required)

A Photographic Atlas for the Microbiology Laboratory, 4th Edition, M.J. Leboffe and B.E. Pierce, Morton Publishing Co. 2011, ISBN: 978-089582-872-9. (required)

Supplies

Textbooks

Lab printouts

Laptop or notebook Computer with Respondus Lockdown Browser and storage capacity for Lecture Notes.

Internet access

Moisture/fluid resistant lab coat

Gloves

Sharpies

Pens/pencils/paper

Student Performance

MLAB 2434 Clinical Microbiology

Course Learning Objectives

 

Cognitive Objectives:

After attending lecture, reading the assigned materials, and completing all assignments and activities for this course, the student will be able to do the following:

1. Apply principles of safety, quality assurance, and quality control in Clinical Microbiology.
2. Describe microbial classification (taxonomy) and accurately apply the rules of scientific nomenclature for bacterial names.
3. Explain the use of the various staining methods used in the diagnostic microbiology laboratory.
4. Describe the cell walls of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Explain the Gram stain reaction of each cell wall type.
5. List the predominant normal flora of various body sites in a healthy individual.
6. Define the importance of normal biota and explain how alterations in the normal biota may lead to infectious diseases.
7. Distinguish between the categories of media used in clinical microbiology and explain how media is selected.
8. Explain the different forms of isolation techniques used in the inoculation of solid media.
9. Identify the nutritional needs and appropriate atmospheric conditions for incubation of routine cultures.
10. Describe the steps involved in the culture workup/interpretation and how colony characteristics are used in the presumptive identification of microorganisms.
11. Describe laboratory test methods used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
12. Discuss the development and transfer of antibiotic resistance in bacteria and how it is detected in the clinical laboratory.
13. Describe the general characteristics, virulence factors, biochemical test results, and clinical infections of various bacteria, including potential bioterrorism agents.
14. Discuss the epidemiology and pathogenesis of bacteremia and localized bacterial infections.
15. Develop an identification flowchart (algorithm) for the identification of the pathogenic bacteria.
16. Determine the risk factors in immunocompromised hosts that predispose them to infections.
17. Collaborate and analyze case studies in Microbiology with classmates.

Psychomotor Objectives:

After attending lecture and laboratory sessions and reading the assigned materials, the student will be able to:

18. Demonstrate knowledge of the vocabulary utilized in this course by completing all study questions and other assigned learning activities.
19. Resolve case studies in Microbiology based on information provided.
20. Collaborate on classroom discussions and question/answer sessions.
21. Perform laboratory exercises as directed and answer all questions associated with each individual laboratory assignment.

Affective Objectives:

During this section, the students will exhibit the following professional behaviors, as evaluated in the Work Ethics component of this course:

22. The student will attend all lecture and laboratory sessions.
23. The student will perform all reading assignments, take his/her exams/quizzes, and complete all assigned activities independently, unless asked to work with a partner.
24. The student will demonstrate the honesty and integrity to perform these tasks, as expected, with emphasis on quality and timeliness.
25. The student will participate in discussions regarding honesty, integrity and responsibility, as they relate to legal and ethical issues in the clinical laboratory.
26. The student will demonstrate respect for his/her classmates, instructor, and all other students regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Academic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of the college rules and regulations and is punishable as prescribed by Amarillo College Board policies. Academic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to, cheating on a test/quiz/assignment, plagiarism, and collusion. Cheating shall include:

• Copying from another student's test/assignment paper.
• Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test/assignment (ex: notes, books, etc).
• Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test/assignment without permission from the test/assignment administrator/instructor.
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one's self, to take a test/assignment.
• Bribing another person to obtain an administered/unadministered test/assignment or information about an administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• Plagiarism shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work.
• Collusion shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements.

WORK ETHICS

Amarillo College and the Medical Laboratory Technology program are committed to developing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors in students so that they can obtain entry-level employment and advance in their chosen profession. Great measures are taken to ensure that the curriculum is updated and that equipment is purchased and kept at industry level, as much as possible. Program Advisory committees meet annually to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of the local medical community as well as the program's national accrediting agency.

We are committed to providing these things to ensure that a graduate has the skills and knowledge to obtain and advance in their chosen profession. Therefore, professional education must address more than academic and skills training in order to meet this challenge. Business and industry state that their greatest need is for employees who possess strong work ethics. Therefore, we accept the challenge of providing not only academic and hands-on training but also work ethics training to students. The work ethics program is important because it provides the link between academic knowledge, skills training and successful employment in the workforce. The program focuses on those behaviors expected in a professional environment.

The following work ethics have been identified as being most important to professional employers, and will be covered and evaluated on a weekly basis, each semester, throughout the program:

• Attendance
• Character
• Teamwork
• Appearance
• Attitude
• Productivity
• Organization
• Communication
• Cooperation
• Respect
• NOTE: If a student is absent during a scheduled lecture/lab period, he/she cannot be awarded points for work ethics during that missed lecture/lab period.

CELL PHONES

Cell phones are disruptive during lecture and lab sessions. Cell phones should be turned-off during class time, or set on vibrate or "silent" during class time. If the student anticipates an emergency during class time, they should leave the number for the Student Services Office with their contact. The number is 371-5300.

Text/Instant Messaging is NOT permitted when lectures and labs are in session.  It is disruptive and disrespectful to fellow students and the course instructor. Students who are caught engaging in either of these will be subject to disciplinary action including, but not limited to:

• Being asked to leave class for the remainder of the day
• Mandatory conference with the Assistant Dean of Career and Technical Programs
• Conference with the Dean of Students and a permanent entry in the student's official program record
• The ONLY exception that will be made is if the student has discussed the situation with their instructor beforehand, and ONLY for emergency purposes.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

If a student is having a problem with the course policies or the instructor, he or she should first try and resolve any such problems through the instructor. If the problem is not resolved, the student may proceed to the Dean of Health Sciences (Kim Crowley), Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs (Becky Burton) Vice President of Academic Affairs (Dr Tamra Clunis), and the College President (Dr Russel Lowery-Hart), IN THAT ORDER.

Grading Criteria

The lecture and laboratory components of this course will be weighted as follows:

Lecture (50% of total grade):

• Regular examinations (100 points each)
• Digital Notebook and Lab Manual (50 points)
• Journal article abstract (50 points total, includes original post and comments to classmates)
• Quizzes: 5 points possible per quiz. Quizzes will be administered at the beginning of class. Students are advised to read the chapter and/or complete questions related to the chapter PRIOR to class.

Laboratory (10% of total grade):

• Laboratory exercises (10-20 points each). If the lab has study questions associated with it, they will be due at the beginning of class/lab. Study questions are to prepare the student for the laboratory exercise. The student will not be permitted to participate in lab if they have not completed the study questions.
• Lab practical (100 points possible)

Research Paper and Presentation (10% of total grade):

• Research paper must:
  • Be at least 3 pages in length
  • At least 3 different material sources
  • Written in APA format with appropriate citations
• Presentation:
  • Must be at least 8-15 minutes long
  • Use at least one visual aid (Powerpoint, posterboard, etc.)
  • Full grading rubric will be posted in the Blackboard course.

Work Ethics (10% of total grade):

• 40 points per week, up to 10 points will be given per class/lab day.
• Points awarded will be based on ALL areas defined in the Work Ethics component of this course including: Attendance, Character, Teamwork, Appearance, Attitude, Productivity, Organization, Communication, Cooperation, and Respect. Failure to demonstrate positive work ethics in any of these components will result in points being deducted from the student’s work ethics grade. If the student is disruptive to the class or lab, they will be asked to leave for the remainder of the day, and will not be awarded points for work ethics.

Final comprehensive exam: 20% of total grade

Grading Scale

The grading scale used for this course would then be applied as follows:

A = 90.0% - 100.0%

B = 80.0% - 89.9%

C = 70.0% - 79.9%

F = 69.9%

NOTE: A grade of 'D' is not possible

Major examinations will be given over the lecture and lab reading material each week. Examinations and quizzes may not be made up without prior consent.  Labs may not be made up.

Late Assignment Policy

Students are required to observe and abide by all assignment due dates. Assignments turned in after the specified date will only be accepted at the discretion of the instructor. Assignments that are time-sensitive, or are required prior to completing other tasks (ex. Pre-lab assignments), may not be accepted.

Zero credit or reduced credit (maximum grade given will be equivalent to a reduction in 2 letter grades) will be given for assignments turned in after the specified date. This is at the discretion of the instructor. It is essential that students be aware of all assignment due dates.

Mandatory Tutoring

If a student makes a grade below a 75% on any given exam, they will be required to attend and show proof of a minimum of 1 hour of tutoring as directed by the instructor.

INCOMPLETE

Incompletes are granted only for emergency situations such as hospitalization of the student just prior to the final exam, serious injury to the student on the day of the final exam, etc. Incompletes will not be granted for situations involving vacation plans, transportation difficulties, appointments, etc. Students who need to request an incomplete must do so prior to the scheduled time of the final exam with appropriate documentation given to the instructor.

DROPPING/WITHDRAWING FROM CLASSES

No administrative drops/withdrawals will be initiated by program officials.  It is the responsibility of each student to drop or withdraw from a course. Students can drop a course via ACconnect, and must do so prior to the last day to drop/withdraw as posted on the Amarillo College Master Calendar. Students should be aware that failure to attend class does NOT result in being automatically dropped from a course, and WILL result in a grade of “F”.

Students should be advised that they may repeat a MLAB course only one time, and may repeat no more than two courses while enrolled in the program. The term “repeat” shall be interpreted to mean re-enrollment following withdrawal, drop or an unsatisfactory grade from a class. Students who are forced to completely withdraw from the college during a given semester may re-apply for admission to the program. Once the student has actually begun the program, he/she must complete all MLAB major courses within 36 months.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Attendance is included in the Work Ethic grade throughout the course which is a component of the overall grade for this course. Attendance includes arriving for class late and leaving early. 3 incidences of tardiness is equivalent to 1 absence.

Less than 90% attendance in a course may result in failure of the course.  Students are required to notify faculty in advance of class absence.

MLAB 2434: Microbiology Course Schedule

Week	Day	Lecture	Lab	Assignments
Week 1	Monday	Ch 1 – Bacterial Cell Structure, Physiology, Metabolism, and Genetics Ch 2 – Host-Parasite Interaction	Lab 1 – Micro Lab Safety Make Media
	Tuesday	Ch 6 – Specimen Collection and Processing	Lab 2 – Specimen Gram Stain
	Wednesday	Ch 7 – Microscopic Examination of Infected Materials	Lab 3 – Micro QC
	Thursday	Ch 8 – Use of Colonial Morphology for the Presumptive ID of Microorganisms	Lab 4 - Specimen Reporting and Communication
Week 2	Monday	No Class- Memorial Day
	Tuesday	Unit 1 Exam (Ch 1,2,6,7,8) Ch 13 – Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing  Ch 14 – Staphylococci	Lab 5 – Gram Positive Cocci	Week 1 Study Questions Due
	Wednesday	Ch 15 – Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and other Catalase-Negative Gram-Positive Cocci	Set up Crystal ID
	Thursday	Ch 36 – Bacteremia and Sepsis		Journal Article due 9 am Fri. Comments due by Mon at 9 am.
Week 3	Monday	Unit 2 Exam (Ch 13,14,15,36) Ch 16 – Aerobic Gram-Positive Bacilli	Lab 6 – Gram Negative Cocci	Week 2 Study Questions Due
	Tuesday	Ch 17 – Neisseria Species and Moraxella catarrhalis	Unknown #1 – Blood cultures
	Wednesday	Ch 18 - Haemophilus and Other Fastidious Gram-Negative Bacilli	Start Unknown #2 - Throat
	Thursday	Ch 32 – Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Week 4	Monday	Unit 3 Exam (Ch 16,17,18,32) Ch 19 - Enterobacteriaceae	Lab 7 – Enterobacteriaceae	Week 3 Study Questions Due
	Tuesday	Ch 20 – Vibrio, Aeromonas, and Campylobacter	Start Unknown #3 - Urine
	Wednesday	Ch 34 - Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Poisoning	Set up Crystal ID
	Thursday	Ch 37 – Urinary Tract Infections
Week 5	Monday	Unit 4 Exam (Ch 19,20,34,37) Ch 21 – Nonfermenting and Misc. Gram-Negative Bacilli	Lab 8 – Nonfermenting Gram-Negative Rods and Other Gram-Negative Rods	Week 4 Study Questions Due
	Tuesday	Ch 22 – Anaerobes of Clinical Importance	Start Unknown #4 - Stool
	Wednesday	Ch 33 – Skin and Soft Tissue Infections Ch 35 - Infections of the Central Nervous System	Lab 9 & 10 – GPRs and Anaerobes
	Thursday	Research Presentations
Week 6	Monday	Unit 5 Exam (Ch 21,22,33,35) Ch 26 – Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other Nontuberculosis Mycobacteria		Week 5 Study Questions Due
	Tuesday	Ch 38 - Genital Infections and Sexually Transmitted Diseases	Lab Practical (Dry)
	Wednesday	Comprehensive Final Exam On Campus June 29th at 9 am		Notebooks Due
	Thursday

This is a tentative course calendar. The instructor will always notify students if there is going to be a change in the calendar. It is the student's responsibility to check course announcements, course email, and/or GroupMe messages on a regular basis in order to be notified of any changes in the calendar.

Calendar

Additional Information