M.D. Microbiology

Clinical Microbiology including Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):

Demonstrate competence in clinical aspects as a Microbiologist to improve patient care.

Demonstrate application of microbiology in different clinical settings to address diagnostic and therapeutic problems along with preventive measures.

Demonstrate competence in recording, advising and guiding use of antimicrobials judiciously for infectious diseases in routine and in special clinical situations and population.

Demonstrate competence in developing guideline for antibiotic usage, including formulation of antibiotic policy in hospital.

Identify public health epidemiology, global health patterns of infectious diseases and effectively participate in community outreach and public health programs for investigation, prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Elicit relevant history for optimum clinic-microbiological correlation with laboratory results.

Perform basic physical examination and assess the patients with any suspected infection including community acquired/ tropical infection/ sepsis/ imported infection/ hospital acquired infections and emerging and re-emerging infections.

Formulate and critique diagnostic algorithms and patient care plans.

Choose, interpret and communicate the results of appropriate microbiological investigation in a suspected infection.

Suggest optimal antimicrobial therapy, based on results of antimicrobial susceptibility tests and other investigations.

Demonstrate self-directed learning skills and keep updated with recent advances in the field of clinical microbiology.

Advocate antibiotic stewardship for prevention and control of AMR

Demonstrate in depth knowledge of classification, mechanism of action and drug resistance of antimicrobials (antibacterials, antiviral, antifungal, antimycobacterial and antiparasitic agents).

Explain various phenotypic and genotypic methods used in laboratory for detection of drug resistant strains and their implications in patient care.

Demonstrate skills in performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing with calculations of MIC/MBC by various phenotypic and genotypic methods and interpret results as per standard guidelines (CLSI, EUCAST etc).

Detect and report bacterial drug resistance by identification of the commonly isolated drug resistant strains (MRSA, VRSA, VRE, CRE, MBL, AMP-C etc) and choose the most appropriate agent for therapeutic use in a specific clinical scenario.

Explain the implications of AST result on antimicrobial therapy to clinicians/colleagues.

Communicate effectively with clinicians to guide and create an antimicrobial treatment plan based on organism identification and susceptibility test.

Explain the concept of narrow/broad spectrum of antimicrobials, PK/PD parameters and their significance on response to antimicrobial therapy.

Explain significance of monitoring of antimicrobial therapy in patient care.

Explain the concept of empiric, syndromic and culture-based treatment strategies for treating infections.

Explain the need to de-escalate from empirical broad-spectrum therapy to targeted narrow-spectrum therapy.

Explain the importance of appropriate use of antimicrobial agents, risk of antimicrobial resistance and spread of AMR in the health care environment and the community.

Explain the concept of normal microbial flora, colonization, contamination and infection with its role in deciding antimicrobial therapy.

Demonstrate knowledge about antimicrobial prophylaxis including peri-operative surgical prophylaxis regimens.

Describe the concept of first-, second- and third-line antimicrobial therapy for infections.

Explain the importance of restricted reporting of susceptibility data by the laboratory to control antimicrobial use.

Explain the concept and application of WHO tool for optimizing use of antimicrobial agents: Access, Watch and Reserve (AWaRe).

Explain the importance of antimicrobial formularies, consumption data and prescribing policies and processes to monitor use of antimicrobials in hospitals.

Effectively use information technology (LIS, WHO NET etc.) for data collection and surveillance of AMR in microbiology laboratory.

Explain significance of collecting local antimicrobial resistance data and its use in deciding direct empirical antimicrobial therapy.

Demonstrate knowledge and skills to develop antibiotic policy by using local AMR data in hospital.

Explain significance of adherence to antibiotic policy and antibiotic stewardship program.

Be a part of antimicrobial stewardship team for the institution.

Demonstrate knowledge about recent published guidelines that recommend antimicrobial treatment therapy in various clinical situations.

Effectively communicate with the patients/ relatives about the role of antimicrobial agents in their disease and advice on appropriate use.

Actively engage with patients, relatives and the community to advise on the role of antimicrobial agents in therapy and the threat of resistance.

Participate in clinical audit and quality improvement programmes relating to antimicrobial use.

Teach students, colleagues and other health professionals regarding antimicrobial use and resistance.

Educate patients/ relatives/ community on various aspects of antimicrobial use, antimicrobial drug resistance, prevention and control of infections.

Laboratory skills in diagnostic Microbiology

Demonstrate acquisition of pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical laboratory skills to ensure quality of test results.

Perform tests pertaining to basic, diagnostic, clinical and applied Microbiology.

Demonstrate administrative and organizational skills to establish good clinical microbiological services in a hospital and in the community in the field of clinical microbiology

Demonstrate effective leadership and teamwork skills while working with other members of the health care team in hospital, laboratory and community settings

Infection Prevention and Control

Play an important role in hospital infection control by actively participating in activities of the Hospital Infection Control Committee as a team member

Demonstrate knowledge, skills & attitude required to detect, prevent and control health care associated infections of all types.

Manage Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) and prepare effective sterilization and disinfection policy for the hospital.

Demonstrate knowledge and skills about management of biomedical waste in health care setting as per recent guidelines and educate staff about risks, preventive measures and the management of occupational exposure to infectious agents.

Demonstrate ability to work as a member of the rapid response team and contribute to investigations of outbreaks of infectious diseases in the hospital and outbreak/epidemic/pandemic in the community.

Teaching and Learning Skills:

Demonstrate ability to plan, execute and evaluate teaching and training assignments efficiently and effectively in Microbiology for undergraduate students as per Competency Based Medical Education (CBME).

Demonstrate understanding of basic concepts of medical education technologies like domains of learning, teaching skills, teaching – learning methods, lesson planning, learning resource material, assessment techniques etc.

Demonstrate good teaching skills while conducting teaching/training sessions like tutorials, demonstrations and practical for undergraduate students, laboratory technicians etc. and participate actively in the planning and conduct of assessment of students learning at various stages of formative / summative assessment.

Learn by integrating with concerned subspecialty

Research:

Demonstrate skills in conducting collaborative research in the field of Clinical Microbiology and allied sciences which has significant bearing on human health and patient care. Plan, design and conduct meaningful scientific research in microbiology in collaboration with allied subjects.

Acquire expertise to write research protocol, thesis and present a research paper in the scientific forum.

Follow guidelines on ethical conduct in research.

Acquire proficiency and demonstrate ability to use biostatistics, data management.

Critically appraise a scientific article and have knowledge of evidence-based practice.

Acquire expertise in writing proposals for research grants and know the various sources of research funding.

Communication and attitudinal skills:

Demonstrate communication skills required for safe & effective laboratory practice and teaching of microbiology

Demonstrate the right kind of attitude, communication and ethics while dealing with clinical material and reports.

To work as an effective team member and leader.

Demonstrate attributes of professional behavior and uphold the prestige of the discipline  amongst the fraternity of doctors