Immersion in Clinical Microbiology – Modules III and IV

Target Audience

Professionals and students from pharmacy, biomedicine, and biology programs who work or wish to work in the field of clinical analysis, and who have already completed the microbiology course.

Justification

The Clinical Microbiology Immersion Course is justified by the growing demand for qualified professionals to face the challenges of diagnosing and treating infectious diseases, including the management of hospital-acquired infections. The field of clinical microbiology is essential for public health safety, especially in light of the increase in infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms.

The course will cover identification methods and mechanisms of bacterial resistance, aiming to provide support for accurate diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic guidance, contributing to the improvement of clinical assistance and infection management.

General Objective 

To train professionals to understand the identification and characterization of bacteria, as well as the main resistance mechanisms presented by different bacterial species, applying this knowledge in the diagnosis of diseases and the assessment of microorganisms' sensitivity to antimicrobials.

Specific Objectives

• Objective: To train the professional/student to manipulate, isolate, culture, and identify bacteria.
• Focus: To recognize, isolate, identify, and interpret clinically important bacteria using classical methods and modern microbiological diagnostic technologies.
• Laboratory Safety: use of biosafety measures, PPE, proper handling of pathogenic cultures.
• Laboratory Techniques: sterilization, media preparation, sample collection, and maintenance of bacterial cultures.

Course Content

[title-dropdown]Identification of GRAM-positive cocci – Streptococcus and Enterococci.[/title-dropdown]

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• Biochemical tests: Catalase, sensitivity to Bacitracin (BAC), sensitivity to Optochin (OPT), sensitivity to Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim (SXT), MTS broth, Bile Esculin Test, and CAMP Test.
• Morphological observation: GRAM - groupings in microscopy (isolated, in pairs, triplets, tetrads, and regular rows).
• Cultivation on selective media: blood agar, CLED agar.

• Morphological, Staining, and Clinical Characteristics of Staphylococcus.
• GRAM Method
• Catalase Test
• Bacitracin Sensitivity Test
• Optochin Sensitivity Test
• Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim Sensitivity Test.
• MTS Broth
• Bile Esculin Test
• Antimicrobial Sensitivity Test (TSA).
• Mechanisms of Bacterial Resistance to Antimicrobials.

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[title-dropdown]Antimicrobial Sensitivity Test (TSA)[/title-dropdown]

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• Objective: To determine the susceptibility or resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics.
• Common method: Agar diffusion (Kirby-Bauer), with interpretation based on inhibition zones.
• Interpretation: classification as sensitive, intermediate, or resistant according to standardized criteria (BRCAST).

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[title-dropdown]Mechanisms of Bacterial Resistance (BRCAST)[/title-dropdown]

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• Objective: To review the main mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobials in Streptococcus and Enterococcus, and to perform a TSA capable of identifying them.
• Importance: to assist in the selection of effective therapies and the interpretation of sensitivity tests.

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