We can motivate why we included this course in the study program.
The bachelor in Pharmaceutical en Biological Laboratory Technology can work in laboratories on projects including manipulating bacteria or can work in the routine diagnostic lab.
In this course the student gets acquainted with important gram negative pathogenic bacteria. Students gain insight into the various factors that play a role in the virulence of these bacteria and the different strategies to arrive at a correct identification of pathogenic bacteria. The intention is that the student builds a certain knowledge of the biochemical and molecular biological identification and typing of bacterial pathogens within a system of quality assurance.
Another objective of this course is mastering the knowledge of the different classes of antibiotics, different resistance mechanisms and different laboratory techniques to measure clinical and biological sensitivity of a bacterial strain. Further more, students can describe the appropriate techniques and in some cases, make use of them in order to make objects, solutions and work surfaces germ-free.
The purpose of this course is that the student combines insight with the basic skills required in the (medical) bacteriological laboratory: sterile work, isolating colonies, performing biochemical identifications, laboratory techniques for the determination of the biological and clinical sensitivity of a strain and all this in a safe manner, in accordance with the standards of the quality assurance. Finally, it is intended that the student actively searches for recent developments in the field of (medical) bacteriology through targeted research work in literature. Furthermore the student can give an oral presentation about it in a different language (English or French).
This course has a coherent vertical and horizontal alignment with respect to other courses.

Vertical alignment using the learning model:
Model Pathway 1:
microscopy
celbiology 2
Model Pathway 3:
Bacteriology 2
Horizontal alignment:
biochemistry
pathology

Theory
This course consists of the following components:
Overview of pathogenicity of bacteria
Microscopic examination
Methods to culture bacteria
Summary of the biochemical and molecular biological assays for the identification of bacterial micro -organisms with the discussion of the multi- test media; also techniques to differentiate strains of a species
Enterobacteriaceae (description, pathogenesis, isolation, identification, serotyping)
Description of oxidase positive fermentative gram -negative bacteria, non -fermentative gram -negative bacilli and gram- negative bacilli which require special conditions for growth
Discussion of different antibiotics, different resistance mechanisms and discussion of laboratory techniques for the determination of the clinical and biological sensitivity of strains, the different sterilization methods and disinfectants and operation of safety cabinets.

Laboratory exercises
Exercise 1: Differentiation of Candida spp. by qPCR

Exercise 2: Rapid biochemical identification tests
Exercise 3: Use of multi-test media, biochemical test tablets and the API-20E system for the identification of unknown bacteria (ATCC culture)
Exercise 4: The antibiogram
Exercise 5: Identification of 2 unknowns from a mixture of 2 unknown bacteria (ATCC cultures)
Exercise 6: " The control of microbial growth " and Working with a safety cabinet type II - Cell Culture
Exercise 7: Determing a bacterial growth curve
Exercise 8: PCR for identification of Campylobacter spp.
Exercise 9: Assignment combined with an Oral Presentation (literature search)

Skills-test

There are no prerequisites for this course.

The agreements on sequentiality who apply for this course in the education programme are found in the teaching and examination regulations (FOER).

Domain-specific Learning Outcome 6
Professional bachelor students of Bio-Medical Laboratory Technology work in a safe and environmentally-aware manner in accordance with statutory provisions within a lab setting, both in a chemistry lab and in a class II biosafety lab.
Domain-specific Learning Outcome 8
Professional bachelor students of Bio-Medical Laboratory Technology submit clear and correct reports on research data, analysis results, projects and processing of scientific literature, using the appropriate biomedical specialist terminology in languages other than Dutch.

Pharmaceutical and biological laboratory technology
Professional bachelor students of Pharmaceutical and Biological Laboratory Technology apply the appropriate methods and technologies of the medical-diagnostic field in a scientifically substantiated manner and in varying contexts…

Domain-specific Learning Outcome F1
… within biological research. In doing so, they apply bioinformatics applications as and when required.

Lecture with activating elements
Demonstration (emphasis on knowledge)
Supervised work
Demonstration (emphasis on action, possibly attitudes)
laboratory exercises
excursion
Peer tutoring

Consultation by appointment
Use of Chamilo
Formative evaluation through reports of the laboratory exercises with feedback
peer tutoring

Oral examination (70 % of the total mark):
- 3 open questions with written preparation time
- 1 open question (consisting of sub-questions ) without preparation time
- Interpretation of an article in English related to bacteriology
The number of questions at the oral examination is limited in function of the allotted time. It clearly indicates which part of the learning content the exam focuses on.

Special provisions
Cf . EER HoGhent and EER-Faculty Education, Health and Social Work.
Examination methods in case of non-periodic evaluation related to the first examination period

Permanent evaluation (30 % of the total marks):
- Reports of the practical exercises (mainly written)
- 2 tests
- attitude
- skills-test
- Oral presentation (independent work)
Presence during lessons is necessary
A second chance evaluation during the second evaluation period is excluded. The results of the non-periodic evaluation of the first evaluation period are retained.
Special provisions
Cf . EER HoGhent 2017-2018 and EER, Faculty Education, Health and Social Work 2017-2018.
Examination methods in case of periodic evaluation during the second examination period
For the second chance the same evaluation forms are used as well as the same percentage of the final rating for each evaluation form assigned as in the first exam.
An analogous oral exam is organized during the resits

The cost of the written study is estimated at around 31 euros.

Other study costs are estimated at about 25 euros: a mandatory fireproof labcoat with Biosafety label (one time purchase for all practical biosafety risks).

microbiology
bacteriology
infections
safety technology