The ID Fellow will spend one month early in their first year in the clinical microbiology and immunology laboratory.
Goal: To learn basic microbiology and immunology that is applicable to the practicing infectious disease specialist.
Objective: To introduce to Fellow to the techniques of microbiologic identification, sensitivity testing and work up of mycobacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Basics concepts of immunology will be introduced. Microbial virulence factors and host defense mechanisms will be reviewed. The laboratory evaluation of the immune compromised host and serologic diagnosis of disease will be reviewed. Specific objectives of the rotation include:
Microbiology
- specimen collection and handling
- Gram stain preparation and review
- work-up of specimens
- work-up of unknown
Teaching environments: Working directly with the medical technologists, laboratory supervisors and medical directors, the fellow will gain hands on experience working up clinical samples for microbiologic identification and sensitivity testing. Rotations through the mycobacteriology, virology and mycology sections will introduce the Fellow to culturing and identification techniques for these organisms.
The Fellow will also learn about parasitology identification and clinical molecular techniques. Daily rounds with the laboratory director to review specimens and work-ups in progress.
Mix of diseases: Bacteria, mycobacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi induced. Laboratory evaluation of the immune compromised host.
Reading list: Sections from the Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases edited by Mandell concerning the clinician and the microbiology laboratory.
Evaluation: Written evaluation by the head of the clinical microbiology laboratory. The Fellow will also provide written evaluations of the rotation to the fellowship director.
