Tuberculosis and Atypical Mycobacteria
Code
21219
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
Department
Medical Bacteriology
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Professor Doutor Miguel Viveiros Bettencourt
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
To know: The global epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) and other micobacteriosis, demographic factors, mechanisms of transmission and dissemination. How the health system and the laboratory is organized to prevent transmission, in particular of resistant strains and their interconnection with the coinfection with HIV.
The biological characteristics of etiological agents of TB and other micobacteriosis;
The immunophysiopathology of mycobacteriosis and the clinical manifestations of the various forms of TB;
The classic techniques of clinical micobacteriology, theoretical and practical knowledge of laboratory techniques for TB, leprosy and other micobacteriosis diagnosis.
The basics of management of laboratories in programs to combat TB and procedures for monitoring therapy.
The external and internal quality control.
Prerequisites
n/a
Subject matter
Clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis and infections caused by atypical mycobacteria.
Genus Mycobacterium. Cell wall and pathogenesis, diagnosis, resistance and rational development of drugs.
Emerging human mycobacteriosis.
Tuberculosis and drug resistant mycobacteria. Security measures.
Standard procedures for mycobacterial laboratory diagnosis. Collection and transport of products, staining, decontamination and concentration, culture techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility tests. Quality control in the laboratory.
TB Immunology: protective immunity against tuberculosis. Immunological mechanisms triggered by vaccination with BCG. Immune response to infection by M. avium in immunosuppression.
Theoretical-practical sessions: processing of samples for isolation of Mycobacteria and culture techniques.
Methods of identification. Drug susceptibility tests.
Bibliography
1. Portugal, I. & Viveiros M. (2014) Mycobacterium In: Microbiologia Médica, António Meliço Silvestre, Helena Barroso e Nuno Taveira (Eds), Lidel, Edições Técnicas, Lisboa, Portugal. ISBN: 9789727575763.
2. Murray, P.R., Rosenthal, K.S., Pfaller M.A. (2013) Medical Microbiology, 7th Edition. Elsevier Mosby Saunders, St. Louis, EUA. ISBN: 9780323086929.
3. McHugh, T. D. (2012) Tuberculosis: Advances in Molecular & Cellular Microbiology, C A B Intl Press, London, UK. ISBN: 9781845938079.
4. Viveiros M. & Atouguia J. (2008) Tuberculose Saúde Tropical. Edição Universidade Aberta. ISBN:9789726744948.
5. Palomino J. C., et al (2007) Tuberculosis 2007 From basic science to patient care, First Edition, 687 pp.
Teaching method
Lectures Interactive and demonstrative methods for selfdiscovery of the technical solutions of the proposed case study applied to the routine laboratory context in mycobacteriology and tuberculosis. We intend to involve the students in the teaching and learning outcomes, focusing on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of science articles to assist the solving of the cases-study, ensuring the achievement of the objectives of the course. We intend to guarantee the involvement of the student in the solution of the practical cases for application of diagnostic methodologies, coordinated by the teacher and allowing the bridge between the theoretical and practical aspects of scientific research and practice of microbiology and the routine mycobacteriology laboratory, reaching the learning objectives of the course.
Theoretical-practical lessons intended to apply the knowledge gained during the lectures on case-study practical exercises in order to stimulate deductive capabilities, critical analysis, appropriate choice of analytical methodologies and how to summarize results. It is intended to promote the active participation of the MSc students, demonstrating real examples of problems and technical/scientific questions that the student will have to face to solve the case-study problem on tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections. Practical classes and laboratory sessions protocols and tutorials intended to promote that the student manipulates samples, equipment and reagents used in our diagnostic routine, getting to know the basics of techniques as well as basics on laboratory safety in mycobacteriology. The training materials will be accompanied with biological material of our routine laboratory (biological samples, isolated, bacteria, nucleic acids, etc.) that the student will process. The research and critical discussion through scientific papers will be privileged to help the disclosure of the working hypothesis underneath the case-study, to systematize the analysis methods of choice in order to understand, for each technique, its foundation and objective in the context of a working hypothesis What are the possible alternatives and how to critically analyze the results, comparing them with the results of the articles. There will also be a section of questions that are to be answered in support of the information in the practical/guideline manual with topics and questions related to the case-study that requires an active search for further information (bibliographical or other).
Evaluation method
1) T: Lectures based on slide show presentations, accompanied by complementary bibliography. (22 contact hours);
2) PL: Lectures with presentation and solving of case-studies to implement methodologies discussed in the
Cases-studies for diagnosis / monitoring / characterization of the mycobacteria infections and characterization of drug resistance profiles. (4 contact hours);
3) Laboratory classes, based on the practical execution of technique to assisted in the solving of the case-study based on clinical or laboratory cases to be made in Biosafety Laboratory BSL3. (10 contact hours);
4) Assessment: (4 contact hours).