Clinical Microbiology in Pharmacy Education: A Practice-based Approach

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacy Education

Background:

• Rising incidence of multi-drug resistant bacteria, viruses, and fungi necessitates enhanced clinical skills in primary care.
• Aging populations in Canada are increasing healthcare costs, highlighting the need for accessible and affordable patient care.
• The expanding role of pharmacists in healthcare delivery underscores the importance of improving pharmacy education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess perceived gaps in microbiology and infectious disease education among practicing pharmacists in Canada.
• To inform the curriculum design for a new Medical Microbiology program at the University of Waterloo.
• To establish a non-traditional, outcomes-based model for pharmacy education.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study was conducted using a comprehensive survey.
• The survey was distributed to pharmacists across diverse practice settings (hospital, clinic, community, industry, government).
• The survey aimed to identify perceived deficiencies in microbiology and infectious disease training.

Main Results:

• Preliminary findings indicate that pharmacists feel under-qualified in certain areas of microbiology.
• Practitioners identified specific gaps in their education related to infectious disease diagnosis and treatment.
• Survey results highlight a need for enhanced microbiology and infectious disease competencies.

Conclusions:

• Current pharmacy education may not adequately prepare clinicians for the challenges of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
• Curriculum redesign is necessary to address identified educational gaps and improve pharmacist preparedness.
• Further development of a Medical Microbiology program is proposed to enhance pharmacist expertise.