PATH-5019: Clinical Microbiology

Location: Augusta University Medical Center
Enrollment :  2 Maximum

Prerequisites : Medical Microbiology Course

Duration : 4 weeks

Months Offered : All

Goals: To help students understand the operation of a clinical microbiology laboratory and
thereby promote effective utilization.

Objectives: At the end of the rotation, students should be able to understand the basics of:

• Properly collect common specimens for microbiology testing.
• Complete the necessary requisition(s) including all relevant information.
• Perform and interpret Gram stains.
• Describe the basic methods used for commonly ordered cultures and the expected turnaround times.
• Interpret culture and susceptibility tests and integrate the results into patient's diagnostic or treatment paths.
• Discuss the limitations of commonly ordered tests.

Activities: Students are expected to devote 40 hours a week to:

• Clinical Pathology Conferences and other sectional conferences.
• Bench observation with technologists.
• One-hour meeting with Section Director daily.
• Chart review and/or interface with clinicians for patients with complex results.
• Independent study.

Lab hours: 15 weekly

Small Groups: 3 weekly

Seminar Hours: 1 weekly

Other: Independent study 11 weekly

Assessment: 

• Clinical performance evaluation by faculty to assess interpretative and integrative skills.
  
• Clinical performance evaluation by technologist to assess understanding of basic testing requirements and methodology.

This elective is by arrangement only. Please contact Courtney Sahm at 706-721-2897 or Csahm@augusta.edu.