Department of Microbiology

Microbiology is a discipline that involves the study of bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and immunology. The greatest achievements in medical science are attributed to developments in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of several diseases. Microbiology with fundamentals on infectious diseases contributed immensely to the prevention and management of many communicable diseases which in turn reduced the mortality and morbidity. Medical Microbiology plays a role in setting guidelines for sterilization, biomedical waste management, hospital infection control, selection of antimicrobial agents for treatment and vaccination programmes for prevention of infection diseases. The scope of medical microbiology continues to expand with emerging and re-emerging infections.

The Department of Microbiology is having qualified, experienced, well trained and dedicated faculty. The department renders diagnostic services to Adichunchanagiri Hospital and Research Centre (AH &RC) along with teaching facilities to MBBS, Post graduate degree in Microbiology, Nursing and Paramedical courses.

The central laboratory is situated in AH& RC premises renders service around the clock in the diagnosis of infectious diseases by hosting various laboratory tests of bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, serology and immunology. Department is actively involved in hospital infection surveillance and setting guidelines for antibiotic policy. RNTCP and ICTC/HIV surveillance are attached to microbiology section of central laboratory.

The department is organizing guest lectures, continued medical education (CME) programmes and workshops and actively involved in research on various fields in-coordination with other departments.

Goals:

• Teaching MBBS and M.D. Microbiology to understand the natural history of infectious diseases and learn the etiology, pathogenesis, laboratory diagnosis, treatment, control& prevention of infections in the community.
  Training undergraduates and postgraduates in theoretical & practical aspects of Bacteriology, Immunology, Virology, Parasitology and Mycology.
• Reducing the incidence and prevalence of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms through strategies that monitor antimicrobial resistance and improve antimicrobial use.
• Reducing the impact of infections and antimicrobial resistance through guideline development, networking, and education
• Reducing the impact of healthcare-associated infections through infection prevention and control
  Training in basic research methodology to indulge in fundamental and applied research
• To train teaching methods to enable to take up teaching assignments in medical colleges/institutions.

Objectives:

MBBS student at the end of Microbiology Course will be able to:

• Describe the etiology and Pathogenesis of common infectious diseases.
• Describe the mechanisms of host-parasite relationship.
• Investigate common infectious disease with particular emphasis to appropriate methods of specimen collection and laboratory diagnosis and proper interpretation of laboratory test results.
• Be aware of salient features of uncommon infectious diseases.
• Apply the principles of immunology in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases.
• Practice laboratory guided antimicrobial therapy.
• Practice the techniques of asepsis, antisepsis and sterilization in day to day procedures and apply universal precautions in laboratory and clinical practice.
• Organize the prevention and control of communicable disease in the community or hospital.
• Understand different types of Bio-medical waste, their potential risks and their management.

M.D. Microbiology student at the end of the course will be able to:

• Establish good “Laboratory medicine” in hospitals and community in the field of bacteriology, virology, Parasitology, immunology, and mycology.
• Undertake teaching assignment of microbiology in a medical college.
• Undergo specialization in any of the above subspecialties.
• Carry out applied and fundamental research in various branches of medicine involving microbiological work.
• Undertake teaching in medical institutions.