Microbiology

GOAL:

Science is the systematic classification of experience-George Henry Lewes (1817-78).

Department of Microbiology of B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad is a multidisciplinary unit consisting of Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology,Serology,Parasitologysection etc. The laboratory facilities include state of the artFACSCaliburfor FlowCytometrySystem, BACT/ALERT, real time PCR, conventional PCR, Virus cell cultureand conventional microbiological tools for diagnostic services and research activities. The Department plays key role in the infection control programme of Civil Hospital Ahmedabad. Teaching is an integral part of thedepartmentalacademic activity.The department imparts the knowledgeto theundergraduate students aboutthe infectious diseases in terms of their etiology, pathogenesis, and laboratory diagnosis in order to efficiently treat, prevent and control the disease.Post Graduate courses are conducted for award of M.D. and PhD degree in microbiology.

OBJECTIVES:

• To develop competencies, pertaining to medical and diagnostic Microbiology that required to be practiced in health care delivery system.
• Establish and practice “laboratory medicine” for diagnosis of infectious diseases in hospitals and community in the field of bacteriology, virology, parasitology, immunology, serology and mycology.
• Update with the recent advances in the field of medical microbiology and apply this knowledge in understanding etiopathogenesis and diagnosis of the emerging diseases caused by microorganisms.
• Carry out basic or applied research in the branches of medicines involving microbiological work including epidemiology.
• Undertake teaching assignments in the subject of Microbiology for medical and paramedical fraternity.
• Strengthen the epidemiological surveillance network across the state and country in collaboration with Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Gujarat.
• Strengthen infection control practices and promote rational use of antimicrobials through antimicrobial stewardship activities
• To implement various national health programme.

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT’S MESSAGE:

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.

Man has evolved, so also the microbes. The diseases that were caused by infectious agents were firmly established in the 19^thcentury and that founded the discipline of microbiology. Knowledge on microbiology changed the world and helped human progressin many means.The medical microbiologyis a branch of medicineconcerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. In addition, this field of science include study of various microbes for the improvement of health. The communication between the microbiology laboratory and clinicians remains the most important aspect of patient care.For a medical undergraduate student, sound knowledge of the subject with competency and understanding of the principles and their application in clinical context is very crucial in current CBME curriculum.We try and help students learn important concepts of microbiology in patient care setting.

I wish youall to put your best efforts in learning microbiology and applying it synergistically to provide optimal care to patients.

FACILITIES IN THE DEPARTMENT

Location:

• For -IPD services-Microbiology Department, 2^ndFloor B.J. Medical College, Civil Hospital Campus, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• For OPD Services-Room number 118, OPD Building, Civil Hospital Campus, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Timings:

• For –Inservice Patient Services-IPD- 9:00 A.M. To 5.00 P.M. Monday to Friday and Saturday 9:00 A.M. To 1.00 P.M.
• Out Patient Department Services-OPD-9:00 A.M. To 5.00 P.M. Monday to Friday and Saturday 9:00 A.M. To 1.00 P.M.

After routine hours, Emergency Services are provided at Emergency Microbiology Laboratory Civil Hospital Campus.

Sections of Microbiology Department:

• Bacteriology laboratory
• Virology laboratory
• Immunologylaboratory
• Parasitology laboratory
• Tuberculosis laboratory
• Mycology laboratory
• OPD Microbiology laboratory
• Research laboratory
• HIV Testing laboratory
• ICTC Center
• Emergency Microbiologylaboratory
• Sterilization Room
• Decontamination Room
• Practical Class
• Museum
• Seminar Room
• Demonstration Room
• Lecture hall

Microbiology Department- List of Diagnostic Services Offered

Academics:

Excellent undergraduate, postgraduate and paramedical teaching by audio-visual aids, departmental library, and very good museum with catalogues, models, charts.

• Teaching

o MBBS

o Postgraduates

o PhD Microbiology

o MLT

o Physiotherapy

o Occupational Therapy

• Seminar club/Journal club
• Research projects

Participation in:

• Investigation and diagnosis of Epidemics/Outbreaks/emerging infectious diseases
• Infection Control Programme of hospital
• Quality Assurance Programme and NABL accreditation activity

· Internal Quality Control

· Interlaboratory comparison for Quality Assurance:

o Ahmedabad Interlaboratory Comparison Group (AILC) – Quality Assurance Forum, Ahmedabad

· External quality assurance scheme

o HIV& CD₄testing –National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) Pune

o Microbiology & serology-Indian Association of Medical Microbiologist (IAMM)- New Delhi

o AMR-National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) & CMC, Vellore

o Dengue, chikungunya serology and H1N1, COVID 19-ICMR, NIV, Pune

o Polio and Measles Molecular/ serology – CDC / WHO

o Diphtheria and pertussis Culture, Identification ,Toxin detection by Eleks gel precipitation test and PCR- CMC Vellore

Advanced Technologies:

• Flow Cytometry-CD4 testing
• Molecular Diagnostics for viral diseases: *
  • H1N1 flu,
  • COVID-19
  • Dengue Testing and typing

*First in Gujarat to establish the facilities for molecular testing

State ReferenceLaboratory for:

• HIV testing
• NVBDCP (Dengue and Chikungunyatesting)
• Diagnosis of diseases under Integrated Disease Surveillance Project-IDSP
• Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL)

National Programmes:

• National Polio Surveillance ProjectUnder Global Polio Eradication Project-End game strategy
• Measles and Rubella surveillance Programme
• National AIDS Control Programme- -ICTC, PPTCT, ART Center, Sentinel Surveillance
• National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme
  • Dengue
  • Chickungunya
  • Japanese Encephalitis
  • Malaria
  • Filaria

Achievements of Department:

• National Accreditation for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-Department of Science and Technology, India – Accreditation for various Microbiology & infectious diseases Serological testing since 2010 and Molecular testing including COVID-19 RT PCR. Total numbers of accredited scope increased to 45 in year 2021.
• WHO Accreditation-Polio laboratory -One of the seven National laboratories accredited by WHO, Under Global Polio Eradication Project-End game strategy.
• WHO Accreditation-Measles laboratory -One of the National laboratories accredited by WHO, National Measles and Rubella Surveillance Programs.
• WHO Approved Diphtheria and Pertussis laboratory
• Firstin Gujarat to establish the diagnostic facilities in Microbiology Department for theH1N1 flutesting by rRT PCR
• Firstin Gujarat to establish the diagnostic facilities in Microbiology Department for COVID-19 Diagnosis by rRT PCR method serving the whole state of Gujarat during the pandemic.
• State Reference laboratory for HIV 2 testing
• Validation center of rapid antigen test for COVID-19: Only one in Gujarat for Validation of rapid antigen test for diagnosis of COVID-19 under ICMR
• Quality Control lab for COVID -19 RT PCR testing for Gujarat state
• One of the 35 network laboratory for National Programme containment of Antimicrobial resistance by National Center for Diseases Control Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• National antifungal surveillance network: Consented for the participation in National antifungal surveillance network by NCDC Delhi from year 2021-2022
• Nodal center for the State for the Human Node Antimicrobial Resistance, Superbugs, One Health and State Action Plan for combating AMR

SUBJECT CURRICULUM

Syllabus:

A course of lectures, demonstrations, practical skills in microbiologyare taught over period of three semesters (1 year).

Teaching Learning Methods:

• Structured interactive sessions
• Small group discussion
• Practical including demonstrations
• Problem based exercises
• Clinical case studies
• MCQs

Learning Resource Materials:

Text books recommended

• Textbook of Essentials of Medical Microbiology by Apurba S Sashtry, Sandhya Bhat
• Textbook of Microbiology by Anantnarayan & Panikar
• Textbook of Microbiology by Chakraborty
• Textbook of Microbiology by D R Arora
• Textbook of Microbiology by C P Baveja
• Textbook of Parasitology by Chatterjee
• Textbook of Parasitology by D R Arora
• Textbook of Parasitology by R Bhatia & R L Ichpujani
• Textbook of Microbiology by JawetzReference books

Practical journals

For MBBS

Theory and Practical, SGD, SDL, IT and Tutorials

II/I Term

• General Microbiology
• Immunology
• Hospital Infection Control

II/II Term

• Bloodstream and Cardiovascular System Infection
• Gastrointestinal (GI) Infections
• Hepatobilliary System Infections
• Skin, Soft Tissue & Musculoskeletal System Infections

II/III Term

• Respiratory Tract Infections
• Central Nervous System Infections
• Urogenital Tract Infections
• Other Infective Syndromes and Infections
• National Health Programmes for Communicable Diseases

Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technicians-DMLT, Physiotherapy, Microbiology, curriculum

Theoryand Practical

• General Microbiology
• Immunology
• Systemic Bacteriology
• Mycology
• Virology
• Parasitology
• Infection Control
• Hospital Waste Management
• Recent advances

EXAMINATION PATTERN

Internal Examination Marks scheme:

Theory Practical

Internal examination 30 30

Preliminary examination 30 30

Formative evaluation 40 40

Total 100 100

External-University examination scheme:

Theory (Paper Distribution):

Paper 1: Sterilization & disinfection; Diagnostic methods in Microbiology laboratory; Hospital infection; Epidemiology & national programme; Emerging infectious disease; Antimicrobial resistance; Culture media & methods; Immunology (basics & applied); General properties of bacteria, virus, parasites & fungus; Introducing morphology, physiology, classification& genetics; Infection & host organism interaction; zoonotic disease; AETCOM (Module 2.4, 2.8)

Paper 2: CVS & blood stream infections & related diseases; Gastrointestinal (GI) and Hepatobilliary System Infections & related diseases; Skin, Soft Tissue & Musculoskeletal System Infections; Central Nervous System Infection; Respiratory tract infections; Genitourinary & Sexually transmitted infections; Opportunistic infections; Oncogenic viruses

Structure Of Question Paper:

Paper 1 & 2:

Section I

Q.1 Structured long question Any 1 out of 2 1x10= 10 marks

Q.2(a) Case based scenario/Applied short notes Any 2out of 3 2 x 6 = 12 marks

Q.2(b) Write short notes on Any 3 out of 4 3 x 6 = 18 marks

Q.3 Answer only in 2-3 Sentences Any 5 out of 6 5 x 2 =10 marks

Section II

Q.4 Structured long question Any 1 out of 2 1x10= 10 marks

Q.5(a) Write short notes on Any 2 out of 3 2 x 6 = 12 marks

Q.5(b) Write short notes on Any 3 out of 4 3 x 6 = 18 marks

Q.6 Answer only in 2-3 Sentences Any 5 out of 6 5 x 2 =10 marks

Total Duration: 3 hours

Marks distribution:

• Paper 1100 marks
• Paper 2100 marks

Total200 marks

Practical Marks Distribution:

• Oral viva (Clinical case-based questions + table viva) 30 marks
• Exercise 1: Bacteriology staining (Gram / Zn stain) 20 marks
• Exercise 2: Infection control practice 15 marks
• Exercise 3: Parasitology exercise (Stool and Blood Parasite) 20 marks
• Exercise 4: Interpretational exercise (Clinical case based) 15 marks

Total 100 marks