Infectious Diseases (11730.1)

Required texts

• Dockrell, Hazel, et al. Mims' Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 7th Edition. Elsevier, 2025. An e-version of the 6th Edition is available through Ebook Central via the University of Canberra library website. A hard copy version can be purcahsed online: https://shop.elsevier.com/books/mims-medical-microbiology-and-immunology/goering/978-0-323-93725-2

• Infectious Diseases Laboratory Manual 2025, University of Canberra, Australia. The manual is to be purchased from the UCX Shop on campus and brought to each practical session.  The manual will also be made available on the Canvas site, however only the purchased copy is permitted in practical sessions, as it is bound with a plastic cover, enabling decontamination prior to leaving each session.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Feedback on all assessment items will be provided in a timely and constructive manner.

The late submissions policy will be applied, according to Clause 3.93 of the Assessment Procedures.

Special assessment requirements

The final mark for this unit will be calculated by an accumulation of marks from each assessment item. The final mark is out of a possible 100 marks. To achieve a passing grade or higher, students must:

1. Achieve a final aggregate mark of 50% or higher.

2. Participate in at least 80% of the 17 practical sessions, not including the Laboratory and Theory Assessment.

Acquisition of physical laboratory skills is necessary in order to demonstrate Unit Learning Outcomes #1, #3 #5 and in order to meet requirements aligned to WIL skills. Laboratory skills gained during this unit include the following ten skills: proficient use of equipment commonly found in a microbiology laboratory (e.g. loops, swabs, Bunsen burners, pipets), correct aseptic technique, performing and correctly interpreting Gram stains, streaking/swabbing agar plates and slopes correctly, incubating plates and tests under the correct conditions with correct labelling (e.g. anaerobic, aerobic, additional CO2), reading results of various tests (e.g. agar plates, biochemical tests, commercial kits), physically conducting multiple tests for different specimen types (e.g. fecal/wound/genital swabs, blood, urine, CSF, sputum), independently visualise microbes using microscopy (with and without immersion oil), follow written protocols correctly, use flow charts to determine the correct tests to carry out. In order to demonstrate WIL skills and achievement of the ULOs, students must gain a minimum of 9/10 of these skills which can be achieved by fully participating in a minimum of 14/17 practical sessions throughout the semester, as well as the Laboratory and Theory Assessment. Full participation involves attending and personally completing the required tasks.

The unit convenor reserves the right to question students on any of their submitted work for moderation and academic integrity purposes, which may result in an adjustment to the marks awarded for a specific task.

Deferred Assessments

In the event a student misses the Laboratory and Theory Assessment due to illness or other exceptional circumstances, the student must contact the Unit Convener within 3 days of the scheduled assessment. The request to sit a deferred assessment must be received in writing (by email). Students must provide a medical certificate or other relevant supporting documentation prior to sitting a deferred Laboratory and Theory Assessment or any other deferred assessment.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

Students are required to pass the Laboratory Safety Quiz before attending any of the practicals.

There are 17 practical sessions (students must participate in 80% of these) and Laboratory and Theory Assessment (36 hours in total), students are expected to set aside time each week for study, preparation of assessment items, accessing online lecture/text book content, and completing the laboratory manual. This equates to approximately 114 hours, spread over the semester.

In order to do well in this unit, it is important that students gain a good understanding of the appropriate collection and analysis of samples in order to correctly identify infective agents. Therefore, it is expected that students will write comprehensive laboratory notes each week, which they can review regularly. It is also expected that students will complete the table of weekly laboratory results from all groups in order to be well prepared for the practicals and assessments. It is expected that students will complete the reading from the text book, set out in Canvas each week.

Use of the discussion forum on Canvas site is strongly encouraged.

Inclusion and engagement

It is strongly recommended that students who need assistance in undertaking the unit because of disability or an ongoing health condition register with the Inclusion and Engagement Office as soon as possible so that reasonable adjustment arrangements can be made.

Participation requirements

As outlined in the special assessment requirements, participation in practical classes is a compulsory component of this unit and attendance will be recorded. Students must participate fully in at least 80% of the practical classes, not including the Laboratory and Theory Assessment, to pass this unit. A medical certificate and/or other appropriate documentation must be presented to the Unit Convener for every practical session missed. 

Required IT skills

Basic knowledge of word processing software, Microsoft Powerpoint, Excel, and use of internet browsers (including Canvas) and online databases is assumed. 

In-unit costs

Students must purchase the 2025 laboratory manual and safety glasses (lab coats will be provided and cannot be removed form the laboratory).

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

Additional information

In all cases of absence, sickness or personal problems, it is the student's responsibility to ensure that the Unit Convener is informed. The minimum participation requirement must be met in order to pass the unit (regardless of supporting documentation).

It is the responsibility of the student to check the unit Canvas site and their student email frequently and regularly, as notifications to all students enrolled in the unit will be posted via the Announcement Forum and/or Discussion Forum.

Although there are no formal work placements attached to this unit, learning in this unit will be integrally linked to experiences in professional contexts.

Potentially hazardous materials will be used as part of this Unit. Risk assessments have been performed and control measures implemented to manage hazards and risks. Students have an obligation to comply with any safety directions issued by staff and to inform staff if incidents of a potentially hazardous nature occur. With respect to chemicals, staff will provide students with access to Safety Data Sheets. All students must complete the Laboratory Safety Quiz before commencing any of the practicals.

• Semester 2, 2025, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (226277)
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• Semester 2, 2023, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (209104)