Microbiology

Goals and Objectives

During the rotation in Microbiology, the resident will master the following skills:

Patient Care

  • Attend daily report to the Infectious Disease Staff.
  • Attend weekly Infectious Disease Conference.

Medical Knowledge

  • Understand the principles of media selection, plating and culture examination for identification of bacterial, mycobacterial and fungal cultures.
  • Understand the principles of antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacteria, mycobacteria and fungi.
  • Understand the preparation and interpretation of Gram, acid fast, and fluorescent stains for microscopic examination of specimens of bacteria, mycobacteria or fungi.
  • Gain experience in the microscopic identification of ova and parasites.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

  • Review all Gram stains performed on the third shift, correlate with culture results and share findings with technologist.
  • Participate in teaching sessions and review of cultures with supervisors/medical director.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Learn proper procedures for communicating culture results to clinicians, infection control committees and government agencies that monitor reportable diseases.

Systems-Based Practice

  • Understand the principles of specimen collection, transport and processing for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial, fungal and mycobacterial samples from a variety of sources.
  • Understand the principles of automated equipment for monitoring of aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures for growth.
  • Know the algorithms for reporting culture results, including standard incubation times, culture identification and antimicrobial susceptibility.
  • Learn proper methods for specimen collection, transport and processing of specimens for identification of ova and parasites.

Duration

The Microbiology rotation lasts two months

Duties and Responsibilities of Residents by Year

Because Resident training in Microbiology is taught at one point in time, there is no incremental responsibility in different years of training. During the rotation each Resident is expected to perform the following activities:

  • Rotate through all bench areas in bacteriology, virology and parasitology
  • Attend daily report to the Infectious Disease Staff.
  • Attend weekly Infectious Disease Conference
  • Review all Gram stains performed on the third shift, correlate with culture results and share findings with technologist.
  • Prepare a written synopsis of three cases encountered in the laboratory during rotation which includes a description of the case, the microorganism involved, therapy and literature references.
  • Participate in problem-solving sessions said with supervisors/medical director and technologists.
  • Participate in teaching sessions and review of cultures with supervisors/medical director.
  • Confer with medical staff/surgical pathology, etc. regarding culture results, service needs, etc.

Teaching Staff

Michael R. Jacobs, M.D., Ph.D. - Rotation Director

Daniel Rhoads, MD

Kathy Roman, M.T. A.S.C.P

Supervision and Evaluation

Residents meet on a regular basis with the Director of the rotation and with the lead technologists for supervision. Residents are evaluated on a monthly basis with regard to medical ability, work habits, educational initiative, and personal attributes. Evaluations are forwarded to the Residency Program Director, where they are available for review.