Diagnosis and Antifungal Therapy
| Module title | Diagnosis and Antifungal Therapy |
|---|---|
| Module code | BIOM703Z |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Mark Ramsdale (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 40 |
|---|
Module description
In this module, you will be taught about the main approaches to diagnosing fungal disease. Various methods of antifungal susceptibility testing will be discussed including reference methods such as CLSI (Clinical Laboratories Standards Institute) and EUCAST (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing). An overview of the various classes of antifungals and their characteristics will be provided as well as their current use and recommendations as per international management guidelines.
Students should have completed modules BIOM700Z - The Principles of Medical Mycology and BIOM701Z - Medically Important Fungi, and BIOM702Z - Fungal Diseases prior to taking this module.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to provide with the core concepts on the main approaches to diagnosing fungal disease and the key antifungal therapies used to treat disease. The aspects of diagnosing fungal disease are fundamental to our ability to reduce and eliminate the burden of disease from medially important fungi. You will be given information about the following methods used to diagnose fungal disease including:-
- Microscopy & Histopathology
- Culture and Identification (MALDI-TOF, Morphology)
- Serology of fungal disease
- Molecular diagnosis of fungal disease
- Imaging of fungal disease
- Principles of antifungal therapy
- Antifungal agents
- Antifungal susceptibility testing and resistance
- Antifungal therapeutic drug monitoring
- Antifungal stewardship
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate an appreciation for how clinical samples are collected and processed
- 2. Demonstrate an understanding of culture techniques used to grow fungal pathogens from clinical material
- 3. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding in the role of histopathology in the diagnosis of fungal infections
- 4. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the role of imaging to support a diagnosis of fungal disease
- 5. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding in the role of serology in the diagnosis of fungal infections
- 6. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding in the role of molecular diagnosis of fungal infections
- 7. Demonstrate an understanding of the general principles that impact on the selection of antifungal therapy for fungal infection
- 8. Describe with knowledge the current antifungals and their modes of action, formulations and indications for use
- 9. Describe with knowledge the different ways of determining antifungal susceptibility and resistance
- 10. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of antifungal therapeutic drug monitoring.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 11. Outline the key challenges faced by Clinicians and Medical Mycologists aiming to diagnose fungal disease
- 12. Appreciate the complexities of antifungal treatment and the direction of travel with regard to therapeutic options
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 13. Develop the skills for independent study
- 14. Analyse ideas, principles and theories
- 15. Interpret appropriate data, drawing on a range of sources with limited guidance
- 16. Communicate accurately and effectively with peers, tutors and the public
Syllabus plan
The module will commence with a short 'orientation' video, which provides full details of the module aims, content, and what is expected of students in relation to learning objectives and assessments. The module will the explore the key topics via ten core content segments – each delivered through a combination of pre-recorded lectures, videos and guided reading / skills based activities.
The module is organised to introduce topics as follows:
- Microscopy & Histopathology
- Culture and Identification (MALDI-TOF, Morphology)
- Serology of fungal disease
- Molecular diagnosis of fungal disease
- Imaging of fungal disease
- Principles of antifungal therapy
- Antifungal agents
- Antifungal susceptibility testing and resistance
- Antifungal therapeutic drug monitoring
- Antifungal stewardship
All of the core learning material will be available from the start, allowing students to work at their own pace.
There will be a one live (online) session, over the course of the module and details of this will be on the module virtual learning environment support pages. During this session, you will meet the module coordinator and work through a case-study task that supports your understanding of the course material.
Each lecture /content delivery segment will have embedded formative H5P quizzes to work through to check your understanding of the taught material. You can repeat these quizzes multiple times if you need to refresh your memory, especially if some time has lapsed between episodes of studying for the module. There will be a formative MCQ paper to test your understanding before you compete the final assessment. The final module assessment will only be made available once all elements have been completed.
The recommended textbook, and associated module reading lists provide foundation and background knowledge.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 130 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Learning and teaching activities | 15 | Online lectures and content delivery (asynchronous) |
| Learning and teaching activities | 5 | Tutor guided online discussion forum (asynchronous and synchronous) |
| Guided independent study | 10 | Online embedded quizzes and feedback |
| Guided independent study | 10 | Preparation and taking formative multiple choice exam (repeat attempts will be allowed) |
| Guided independent study | 80 | Independent review of lecture material (30 h) and guided literature research (50 h) |
| Guided independent study | 30 | Revision |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online embedded quizzes | 40 minutes, weekly | 1-12 | Online - automated |
| Formative MCQ | 1 hour, by the end of the module | 1-12 | Online - automated |
| Discussion forum | 1 hour | 1-16 | Online - verbally |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of module MCQ | 100 | 1 hour | 1-8 | Online - automated |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| End of module MCQ | End of module MCQ | 1-12 | Typically within 8 weeks of the original result |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons that are approved by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. If deferred, the format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). The mark given for a deferred assessment will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral - if you have failed the module (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) and the module cannot be condoned, you will be required to complete a re-assessment for each of the failed components on the module. The format and timing of the re-assessment for each of the summative assessments is detailed in the table above ('Details of re-assessment'). If you pass the module following re-assessment, your module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Kibbler et al (2018) Oxford Textbook of Medical Mycology. Oxford University Press. Print ISBN-13:9780198755388. DOI:10.1093/med/9780198755388.001.0001
Textbook available to course participants via e-resource link
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- Relevant papers will be included within each section of the module
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | BIOM700Z, BIO701Z, BIO702Z |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 09/03/2022 |
| Last revision date | 12/02/2024 |
