Bacteria, viruses and fungi of medical interest.
1. Microbiological diagnostics: pathological samples, collection, transport, storage and processing of samples. Bacterial infections, direct microscopic examination and culture. Viral infections, direct examination and culture. Methods of detection of microbial macromolecules. Latex agglutination test. Elisa. Immunofluorescence. Immunohistochemistry. Serological diagnosis of infection: methods for documenting the presence and titre of specific antibodies. Molecular microbiological diagnostics: extraction of nucleic acids, hybridization methods, amplification of the hybridization signal, post-amplification detection. Automation in the clinical microbiology laboratory: automation in serology, identification of bacteria and antibiogram, extraction of nucleic acids and in amplification of nucleic acids.
2. Respiratory tract infections: the main clinical manifestations and the laboratory diagnosis of upper and lower respiratory tract infections.
3. The most common central nervous system infections (meningitis, encephalitis) and their laboratory diagnosis.
4. Infections of the genitourinary system, in relation to the microbes ( bacteria, viruses and fungi) involved and to the various types of laboratory diagnosis. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
5. Gastrointestinal tract infections: the main infections of the stomach, intestines and liver in relation to their etiologic agents an laboratory diagnosis.
6. Skin, bone and joint infections: laboratory diagnostic methods.
7. Vascular and cardiac infections, bacteremia, sepsis: main infectious agents and laboratory diagnosis.
8. Opportunistic infections and healthcare-related infections (ICA): definitions, risk factors, routes o

Lippincott® Illustrated Reviews: Microbiology (Lippincott Illustrated Reviews Series) Cynthia Nau Cornelissen Ph.D. (Editor), Marcia Metzgar Hobbs PhD (Editor). Series Editor: Harvey RH, Walters Kluwer.

GENERAL FEATURES OF PARASITES • BLOOD EXAMINATION: sample collection and storage for protozoa and metazoa detection: Trypanosoma spp.; Plasmodium spp.; microfilare; thick and thin blood smears, staining methods. Protozoan cultures. Xenodiagnosi. • FECES EXAMINATION: sample collection and storage, macroscopic examination, microscopic examination in direct wet mount and after concentration procedures. Sedimentation and flotation methods. Complementary techniques: Graham's method (adhesive cellophane); Kato-Katz procedure for counting eggs; Baermann method for Strongyloides. Permanent mounts for egg and cyst detections. Parasite staining techniques. • URINE EXAMINATION, URO-GENITAL SECRET, EXPECTORATE • SCRAPING/CORNEAL BIOPSY • SKIN EXAMINATION. • Immunological diagnostic tools. • Molecular diagnostic techniques in parasitology.

CANCRINI: Parassitologia e Tecniche di laboratorio per le professioni sanitarie. Lombardo Editore

Students will be provided with slides and teaching material related to the topics covered, as well as scientific publications

Extraction of nucleic acids. Pcr real time. Pcr and-point. Practical application of manual and automatic methods in the field of molecular virology. Description and discussion on the technical validation of the diagnostic reports produced during the practical sessions.

Students will be provided with slides and teaching material related to the topics covered, as well as scientific publications

Basic concepts in pre-analytical sample in the bacteriology laboratory. Sepsis, urine culture, liquor and infectious enteritis

Students will be provided with slides and teaching material related to the topics covered, as well as scientific publications