FARM2140 – Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course covers key topics within the field of pharmaceutical microbiology. The curriculum entails the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance development as well as microbiological quality control in drug production. The course also includes the principles for production of biological drugs and the sustainable use of antimicrobial drugs in a One Health perspective i.e. connection between human, animal and environmental health.
Learning outcome
After completing the course you can:
- describe the properties of pharmaceutically relevant microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites), their structure, taxonomy, growth, and molecular mechanisms for gene regulation, transmission of genetic material and antimicrobial resistance development.
- preform and evaluate various methods within microbiological quality control of pharmaceutical products as well as the raw materials and explain structure, composition, manufacture and key microbiological aspects related to the production of various biological drugs.
- explain how and why different microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi and selected parasites) cause infectious diseases such as urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, sepsis, sexually transmitted diseases and skin and bowel infections, at the cellular and molecular level.
- explain the principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy at the cellular and molecular level, including mechanisms of action, drug selection, drug interactions, side effects, misuse of drugs, antimicrobial resistance development and antibiotics in the environment.
- explain the principles of infection epidemiology and vaccination and provide information of the Norwegian vaccination program.
- perform key microbiological laboratory techniques and carry out analysis of datasets by basic programming procedures. In addition you can discuss and evaluate the results from laboratory experiments, describe your results in a laboratory report and assess the risk when working with microorganisms.
- communicate and give advice concerning the use of antimicrobial drugs to other health personnel and patients.?
Admission to the course
The course is only available to students enrolled at the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Oslo.
This course uses bacteria?in laboratory exercises that can be harmful to pregnant and breastfeeding women (fetus/child). No exemption?from the laboratory exercises is?granted as these must be approved to fulfill the learning outcome in the course. Students can apply for facilitation; see Special needs and leave of absence. For more information, contact the study administration at the Department of Pharmacy
Formal prerequisite knowledge
- FARM1100 – Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- FARM1110 – Pharmacology, Physiology and Cell Biology 1
- FARM1120 – Social Pharmacy
- FARM1130 – Pharmaceutically Based Organic Chemistry
- FARM1140 – Pharmacology, Physiology and Cell Biology 2
- FARM1150 – Pharmaceutical Based Biochemistry
- The compulsory HSE courses HMS0501 – Safety and Physical Environment, HMS0502 – Positive Learning Environment, HMS0503 – Laboratory Safety, HMS0506 – Patient Clinic Safety?and HMS0507 – Fire Safety required for students at the 5-year Master`s Programme in Pharmacy.
Course exemption: Laws and regulations describing the overall learning outcome regulate the Pharmacy Programme. Exemptions are only granted if all learning outcomes in the course are covered.?
Overlapping courses
- 5 credits overlap with FARM2145 – OE i farmas?ytisk mikrobiologi.
- 3 credits overlap with FRM1040 – Foundation biology for pharmacists (discontinued).
Teaching
Lectures and elements involving student-active teaching methods, including laboratory teaching (compulsory), problem based learning (PBL) (compulsory) and colloquia.
- 30 hours of lectures
- 10 hours of colloquia. Colloquium questions will be handed out in advance, the students will prepare answers for the study questions which will be presented by students to the other students.
- 51 hours of laboratory work (this including exercises and datalabs with subsequent submission of reports as well as preparative lectures, colloquia and summaries) - compulsory
- 9 hours of PBL (3 PBL tasks) - compulsory
Compulsory participation and submissions in the course must be completed and approved/passed before the final written exam. Approved PBL activities implies that the student has participated actively within the PBL group. The main purpose of PBL is to increase the student?s ability to communicate information about drug use to patients and to other health professionals.
Read more about what applies in the event of absence from compulsory activities.
As?the?teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Completed and approved compulsory instruction and coursework are valid for 3 years. Passed individual laboratory report is valid for 2 years.
Examination
- Final written exam, counting approximately 80 % towards the final grade
- 1 individual laboratory report?(specified topics, graded reports), counting approximately 20 % towards?the final grade.
Both written exam and the individual laboratory report must be passed to pass the exam. The individual laboratory report is valid for 2 years. The finale grade can be assessed subjectively.
Admission to the final written exam requires:
- passed 1 laboratory report
- approved active participation in laboratory teaching and approved laboratory reports
- approved active participation in PBL meetings
Examination support material
You will have access to a calculator in Inspera during the exam.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in Norwegian. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.