Lesson 1Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods: disk diffusion, broth microdilution, automated AST systems — advantages, limitations, when to use eachThis part compares disk spread, broth tiny dilution, gradient strips, and auto AST tools, stressing pick, setup, reading, quality, and spotting missed resistance.
Disk diffusion setup, reading, and limitationsBroth microdilution and MIC determinationGradient diffusion strips: use and caveatsAutomated AST platforms and alert rulesChoosing AST methods for special organismsLesson 2Quality control, validation, and biosafety considerations for molecular testingThis part lists quality checks, proof, and safety for gene tests, including new test checks, daily QC, no mix-up, flow split, and rules match.
Verification and validation of new PCR assaysInternal, external, and proficiency controlsPreventing amplicon contamination and carryoverUnidirectional workflow and lab zoningRegulatory and accreditation requirementsLesson 3Next-generation approaches: targeted amplicon sequencing, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) pipeline steps, assembly, annotation, resistance gene callingThis part brings next-gen sequencing for resistance watch, listing targeted piece flows, WGS prep, run, build, note, gene call, and basic quality and data handle.
Targeted amplicon design and library preparationWGS library prep, indexing, and run setupRead quality control and genome assembly choicesGenome annotation and resistance gene databasesReporting NGS findings and clinical relevanceLesson 4Specimen handling and culture: blood culture sets, incubation, subculture media and colony morphology cuesThis part explains best ways for sample get, blood culture take and warm, subculture ways, and colony shape read, linking sights to likely germs and dirt.
Pre-analytical variables and specimen rejectionBlood culture set collection and incubation rulesSubculture media selection and inoculation patternsReading plates and recognizing mixed culturesColony morphology clues to common pathogensLesson 5Rapid phenotypic methods and immunochromatographic assays for common carbapenemasesThis part focuses quick look carbapenemase spot, like Carba NP types and strip tests, stressing work, flow fit, and result read in patient care.
Principles of rapid phenotypic carbapenemase assaysCarba NP and derivatives: setup and readoutImmunochromatographic tests for KPC, NDM, OXA-48Sensitivity, specificity, and common interferencesAlgorithmic use with culture and molecular testsLesson 6Organism identification methods: biochemical panels, MALDI-TOF MS workflow and interpretationThis part reviews main germ ID ways, like chem panels and MALDI-TOF MS, covering prep, run, spectrum read, fix, and link to lab systems.
Design and interpretation of biochemical identification panelsMALDI-TOF sample prep for bacteria and yeastsAcquisition parameters and spectral quality controlDatabase matching, score cutoffs, and reportingCommon pitfalls and discordant ID resolutionLesson 7Phenotypic assays for resistance detection: ESBL confirmatory tests, modified Hodge test, Carba NP / mCIM / sCIM for carbapenemases, AmpC screeningThis part reviews look tests for resistance, like ESBL confirm, AmpC screen, and carbapenemase like mCIM, sCIM, Carba NP, with plans and complex read.
ESBL screening and confirmatory synergy testsPhenotypic detection of plasmid-mediated AmpCmCIM and sCIM workflows and interpretationCarba NP and related carbapenemase assaysIntegrating phenotypic and genotypic findingsLesson 8Molecular workflows: targeted PCR assays for blaCTX-M, blaKPC, blaNDM, blaOXA-48-like, qnr, 16S methyltransferasesThis part covers gene flows for key resistance, detailing design, controls, read for blaCTX-M, blaKPC, blaNDM, blaOXA-48-like, qnr, 16S mods, plus look data mix.
Primer and probe design for resistance targetsDNA extraction methods and inhibition controlSingleplex vs multiplex PCR assay strategiesResult interpretation and limit of detectionReconciling PCR results with AST phenotypesLesson 9Interpreting MICs and breakpoints: CLSI vs EUCAST differences and how to select appropriate breakpointsThis part explains MIC read with CLSI and EUCAST breaks, noting mind gaps, updates, dose breaks, and ways to pick and note right standards in labs.
MIC concepts, ECOFFs, and clinical breakpointsKey differences between CLSI and EUCASTDose-specific and infection-site breakpointsUpdating and version control of standardsDocumenting breakpoint choices in the lab
