The Emerging Microbe Project: Developing Clinical Care Plans Based on Pathogen Identification and Clinical Case...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacy Education

Background:

• Health sciences students, including doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) candidates, often perceive a disconnect between basic and clinical sciences.
• Mastering diverse microorganisms and their corresponding therapies presents a significant challenge in infectious disease education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement an interdisciplinary project integrating fundamental microbiology with clinical research and decision-making skills.
• To enhance PharmD students' understanding of the interplay between basic microbiology and clinical infectious disease practice.

Main Methods:

• The Emerging Microbe Project involved identifying an unknown microorganism using genetic sequence analysis.
• Students developed a patient case requiring a therapeutic treatment strategy for the identified pathogen.
• The exercise required students to identify the pathogen, compose a microbiology report, and recommend antimicrobial therapy within two weeks.

Main Results:

• The project significantly improved student learning, as evidenced by assignment grades and exam performance.
• Students demonstrated increased confidence and skill in independently selecting appropriate antimicrobial therapies.
• The intervention was conducted with second-year PharmD students in a required infectious disease course.

Conclusions:

• The Emerging Microbe Project effectively enhanced PharmD students' understanding and application of microbiology in clinical infectious disease scenarios.
• This interdisciplinary educational model can be adapted for various health science programs and undergraduate levels.