Fungal Diseases
| Module title | Fungal Diseases |
|---|---|
| Module code | BIOM702Z |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Riina Richardson (Convenor) Professor Adilia Warris (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 8 | 8 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 40 |
|---|
Module description
This module will provide you with a broad understanding of organ specific fungal disease and its clinical presentation. It will include: fungal infections of skin and subcutaneous tissue; mucosal disease including oropharyngeal and vaginal candidiasis; fungal infections of ear, nose and throat (including otitis and sinusitis); fungal meningitis, fungaemia and disseminated infections; eye infections (fungal keratitis); diseases of the respiratory tract (including acute, chronic and allergic pulmonary disease). Risk factors for disease will also be considered.
Students should have completed modules BIOM700Z - The Principles of Medical Mycology and BIOM701Z-Medically Important Fungi prior to taking this module.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will provide a broad understanding of organ specific fungal disease and its clinical presentation. This will include: -
• Infections of skin and subcutaneous tissue
• Mucosal disease
• Infections of ear, nose and throat
• Fungaemia and disseminated infections
• Fungal meningitis
• Eye infections
• Diseases of the respiratory tract (including acute, chronic and allergic pulmonary disease)
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Understand the main causative agents of fungal skin and mucosal infections, their clinical presentation and syndromes, and the main risk factors.
- 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the epidemiology and clinical features, and risk factors of the fungal diseases affecting the ear, nose and throat.
- 3. Describe the common and emerging pathogens causing blood stream infections and their clinical presentation. Demonstrate an understanding of candidemia and invasive candidiasis in terms of causative species, clinical presentation and syndromes, and risk factors.
- 4. Describe the global epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and risk factors of fungal eye infections, fungal meningitis
- 5. Demonstrate an understanding of pulmonary mycoses, the main fungal pathogens causing respiratory fungal infections, their clinical presentation and risk factors. Understand the various phenotypes of pulmonary aspergillosis and its association with underlying disorders and risk factors. .
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding in the epidemiology of fungal diseases
- 7. Demonstrate knowledge in the clinical presentations of these fungal diseases
- 8. Be aware of diagnostic methods, principles of treatment and prevention of these fungal diseases
- 9. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of populations at risk for these fungal diseases
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 10. Develop the skills for independent study
- 11. Analyse ideas, principles and theories
- 12. Interpret appropriate data, drawing on a range of sources with limited guidance
- 13. 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 seven 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:
- Infections of the mucosa, skin and subcutaneous tissue,
- Infections of ear, nose and throat,
- Fungaemia and disseminated infections
- Eye infections
- Fungal meningitis
- Diseases of the respiratory tract.
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 coordinators 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 | 1-9 | Online - automated |
| Formative MCQ | 1 hour, by the end of the module | 1-9 | Online - automated |
| Discussion forum | 1 hour | 1-13 | 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 | 1-9 | Online - automated |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 | 1-9 | 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 | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | BIOM700Z, BIO701Z |
| Module co-requisites | BIO703Z |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 11/03/2022 |
| Last revision date | 01/11/2023 |
