PHR3141 · Comprehensive care: Pathogens, host defence and treatment

Overview

This unit provides the knowledge and skills required for the diagnosis and therapeutic management of patients with selected infectious diseases. The unit will cover bacterial, viral, and fungal infections as well as antimicrobial stewardship. You will relate the pathophysiology and epidemiology of these conditions to the rational design and clinical use of medicines. The chemistry, pharmacology, disposition, and clinical and therapeutic aspects of medicines associated with each condition will be explored in an integrated fashion. This unit will involve the development of pharmacy relevant skills such as therapeutic reasoning and, oral and written communication skills. Quality use of medicines for treating infectious diseases will be emphasised, enabling you to acquire the skills necessary to optimise patient outcomes in different cultural settings.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

In-semester assessment 50%; Final examinations 50% This unit contains one or more competency hurdle assessment tasks that you must successfully complete to be able to pass the unit. You have one attempt, plus an additional assessment capped at 50% of the available marks for the task, to demonstrate your competency in the competency hurdle assessment task. If you fail to meet the hurdle requirement, you will receive a fail grade for the unit regardless of the total marks you achieve.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Describe fundamental concepts of microbiology and host defence mechanisms including immunology and microorganism classification and apply these concepts to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.
2. Describe the epidemiology and clinical aspects of infectious disease state management for selected infectious diseases, including respiratory, skin and soft tissue and genitourinary infections.
3. Describe the signs and symptoms, and diagnostic methods relevant to a variety of infectious diseases.
4. Describe the principles of appropriate antimicrobial prescribing (including directed, empirical and prophylactic therapy).
5. Relate antimicrobial mechanism of action, chemistry, spectrum of activity and key pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.
6. Discuss the philosophy of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), the role of the pharmacist in AMS and potential AMS interventions upon review of antimicrobial prescribing.
7. In the context of a pharmacist and a standardised approach to patient centred care (e.g. Monash Model of CARE) in patients' with an infectious disease • Gather and integrate information concerning the chemistry and pharmacology of medicines, in addition to pharmacokinetic and patient specific factors, to identify potential management options. • Create a medication management plan which incorporates established clinical guidelines, antimicrobial stewardship principles and a comprehensive clinical review of their medicine-related problems. • List and prioritise drug and non-drug management options for treatment and prevention. • Evaluate and justify when referral for medical assessment is required, with a particular emphasis on symptoms indicative of referral. • Develop, apply and communicate education strategies that provide support and optimise patient-centred relationships and outcomes. • Reflect on the development and implementation of a standardised approach to patient centred care by using the Monash model of CARE plan.
8. Demonstrate an integrated understanding of key concepts from previous professional practice and comprehensive care topics, promoting a holistic approach to patient care.
9. Using a multidisciplinary healthcare team approach, develop and articulate appropriate clinical and communication strategies to treat and prevent selected infectious diseases.
10. Demonstrate proficiency in simulated clinical settings by applying clinical reasoning and collaborative decision making to communicate a medication management plan that optimises patient health outcomes

Workload

• One hundred and forty-four hours of independent study • Forty-eight hours of pre-learning activities (up to 4 hours per week) • Forty-eight hours of active learning applied sessions (4 hours a week) • Forty-eight hours of small group classes including assessment (4 hours per week)

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.