Pre-Microbiology
Module
The Biology of Microbial Weapons
Procedures and Safety Management
Procedures and Safety Management Laboratory
Government, Public Health Policy and Regulations
for Bioterror and Biosafety
Pre-Microbiology
Module.
For students who have never studied Micro, an intensive integrated
lecture and lab experience. Three hours/week for 4 weeks. Course will
require the use of text, on-line, CD-ROM and other outside sources
to achieve a workable knowledge in a short time. Each session will
include a short quiz on material in the last class.
| Session |
Topic |
| 1 |
Lect: Bacterial
structure; growth and metabolism, taxonomic principles. |
| |
Lab: Lab.
safety and aseptic technique; introduction to microbial growth
properties and staining (primary). |
| 2 |
Lect: Introduction
to baterial infections, mechanisms of pathogenesis & virulence
properties of bacteria. |
| |
Lab: Cultivation
of common bacteria (media); Gram stain. |
| 3 |
Lect: Strategies
for laboratory diagnosis of microbial infection; patients' specimens/role
of commensal flora. |
| |
Lab: Pure
culture technique; Special stain: capsule stain. |
| 4 |
Lect: Overview
of antimicrobial agents and susceptibility testing. Idetification
of bacteria by metabolic testing. |
| |
Lab: Biochemical
reactions-rapid methods. Serological identification of bacteria.
Special stain: spore stain. |
The
Biology of Microbial Weapons
Course will address the microbial agents thought to comprise significant
potential as weapons. Topics are organized according to biological
classification (bacteria, viruses, biotoxins) as well as pathogens
in special settings such as the food supply. Content will include
biological properties, transmission and epidemiology, pathogenic mechanisms,
diagnosis, control and management. Antimicrobial therapy and vaccines
will also be covered. Lecture format, 3 hr/week.
- Review
of microbial form and function, replication, pathogenic mechanisms,
diagnostic strategies.
- Bacterial
Agents i. Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) and Yersinia
pestis (plague), Vibrio cholerae (cholera).
- Bacterial
agents ii. Clostridia and other toxin producers (botulism, bacterial
cytotoxins and metabolic poisons).
- Bacterial
agents iii. Zoonotic agents (transmissible from animals to humans)
including Franciscella tularensis and Brucella
spp. Review of virus structure and replication.
- Viral
agents. Smallpox and hemorrhagic fevers (i.e. Ebola, Marburg, Lassa)
- Food
borne agents (Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli) and emerging
pathogens (i.e., Chlamydia, Rickettsia, Hanta virus).
- Antimicrobial
agents and protective vaccines. Mechanism of action of antibiotic
drug classes of particular usefulness against weaponized bacteria,
and the vaccines, which protect populations.
- Final
comprehensive exam.
Procedures
and Safety Management
This course will consist of 7 presentations in lecture format and
serve as the introductory course to this certificate program. Each
class session is 3 hours meeting once per week.
-
Review of biohazard agents and pathologies (Part I)
- Biohazard
agents and pathologies (Part II)
- Sampling
methodologies and data interpretation for microbial agents (air,
bulk, surface testing)
- Microbial
remediation methods (staging, implementation and post-remediation
clearance testing)
- Controlling
for microbial hazards (engineering and administrative controls)
- Personal
Protective Equipment I (protective clothing, eyewear, shoes, gloves)
- Personal
Protective Equipment II (respirator selection, fit testing)
- Emergency
Management Practices following bioterrorism incident; Securing contaminated
areas
Procedures
and Safety Management Laboratory
Students complete 6 laboratory sessions applying skills and knowledge
acquired in Course A. Class 7 consists of a mock Bioterrorism response
exercise whereby students will implement skills acquired from previous
sessions. The final class session will involve visiting a biohazard
handling laboratory and a local institutional biosafety program.
- Basic
bacteriological laboratory (use of microscopes, staining, identification,
differentiation)
- Sampling
laboratory (Anderson air samplers, bulk sample collection and surface
wipe testing)
- Collection
and handling of patient specimens
- PCR
techniques
-
ELISA methodologies
- Donning
Personal Protective Equipment / Respiratory Fit Testing Procedures
- Mock
Bioterrorism Incident Response Exercise (focusing on protective
equipment)
- Field
visit to "infectious agent handling laboratory" and "biosafety
program"
Government
and Public Health Policy and Regulations
Course will provide an overview of policies of federal agencies such
as CDC, FDA, EPA, FEMA as they relate to the response to bioterrorism
threats, and the response of local healthcare providers. Impacts on
academic research, communication and the press will be treated as
well. This course is re-designed as a two day conference.
Learning
Objectives:
Overview
of Federal agencies, their overall missions and their role in biosafety
in general and bioterrorism in particular.
Overview
of state and local agencies, their role in biological safety in
general and bioterrorism in particular, and their relationship to
federal agencies
Current
regulations governing biological safety in health care and research
laboratories and their application to bioterrorism.
The
role of federal and local government in developing, propagating
and implementing policies and procedures for responding to bioterrorist
incidents: the anthrax incident
Developing
policies for biosafety and bioterrorism at health care institutions:
development and management of biosafety programs and programs for
responding to bioterror incidents.
Communication
of risk to the public, health care administrators, health care and
laboratory personnel. Role of the media, of government and of health
care administrations.
Case-Study:
Federal Emergency Response to Bioterrorism Episode (guest speaker
from Federal Agency)
Pulling
it together: class scenario: responding to a bioterror threat.
Course
Descriptions