Aims

The course aims at defining the optimal use of resources of the laboratories of bacteriology and virology for diagnosing and treating infectious diseases and of the antimicrobial drugs. It considers the choice of appropriate tests and the interpretation of the results. It gives an update on epidemiological data.

Main themes

Optimal use of microbiology laboratory : indications and choice of tests; microscopy and antigen detection; culture, serology, nucleic acid detection.
Interpretation of results.
Update on epidemiology of infectious diseases.
Optimal use of antimicrobial agents.
Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for difficult infectious diseases.
The course is organised on the basis of typical clinical cases.

Content and teaching methods

Contents and methods

Role of the bacteriology laboratory in clinical practice.
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing : techniques and interpretation.
Epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance
Diagnosis of viral hepatitis
Diagnosis of exanthema
Diagnosis of viral respiratory infections
Diagnosis, prevention and outcome of viral infections in pregnant women
Diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis
Diagnosis and treatment of endocarditis
Diagnosis of infections of prosthetic material and catheters
Diagnosis and treatment of CNS infections

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

The course consists of a series of public lectures.
Prerequisite : Courses of Clinical Microbiology and of Infectious diseases.
Evaluation : oral or written examination.