Curricular Unit:			Code:
Clinical Mycology			908MICC
Year:	Level:	Course:	Credits:
1	Master	Clinical Microbiology	6 ects
Learning Period:		Language of Instruction:	Total Hours:
		Portuguese	78
Learning Outcomes of the Curricular Unit:
The goal of this course is to make students acquire skills to recognize general aspects of infectious diseases of fungal origin, its spread, diagnosis, control, prevention and treatment. It is intended to develop thinking skills that enable them to connect with the knowledge acquired in other areas, including Microbiology, allowing them to apply the knowledge in their work context.
Syllabus:
General characteristics of fungi. Beneficial effects of fungi and implications for human and animal health. Study of the pathogenic characteristics, epidemiological, morphological, physiological, metabolic and virulence of several fungi (yeasts, filamentous and dimorphic fungi) with clinical relevance to humans. Classification of mycoses. Superficial mycoses and fungi that cause superficial mycoses. Subcutaneous mycoses and fungi that cause subcutaneous mycoses. Systemic mycoses. Mycoses and immunosuppression. Opportunistic mycoses and fungi that cause infection in immunocompromised patients. Antifungal agents. Main groups of antifungal agents: mechanism of action, side effects, drug interactions, epidemiology of resistance and resistance mechanisms. New therapeutic systems. Perspectives on the future development of antifungal agents.
Demonstration of the Syllabus Coherence with the Curricular Unit's Objectives:
Students should be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of diseases, their epidemiology and form of dissemination, as well as control and treatment, in order to acquire skills that allow them a good level of performance in clinical Mycology. In this sense the study of different fungal infections with clinical relevance for humans as focused on program content, prepares students for this professional challenge. Emphasis should be given to the most prevalent mycosis in Portugal. Given the increase in immunosuppressed population, it will also be given special emphasis to opportunistic mycoses. Knowledge of treatment options and their limitation, resistance to antifungal agents, and new therapeutic options, will complete the fundamental knowledge in clinical Mycology.
Teaching Methodologies (Including Evaluation):
The teaching methodology involves theoretical lectures. The lectures are essentially expository nature of fundamental and current concepts on the Clinical Mycology. However, they will also be presented and discussed clinical cases and real situations, with presentation and discussion of relevant theoretical concepts in the classroom. It will also be given guidance for self-study of students by consultation of the recommended bibliography. The evaluation will be continuous assessment of knowledge. The evaluation of the theoretical component will involve the execution of two written tests. The continuous evaluation will also take into account the attitude, participation and individual student work.
Demonstration of the Coherence between the Teaching Methodologies and the Learning Outcomes:
For lectures will be used the slide show, and provided the student with the nuclear literature to support the study. The lectures will be essentially expository nature, allowing the student to acquire knowledge in context. These classes allow students to know the mycoses and fungi with clinical significance and integrate knowledge. However it is intended that this learning is also active, with the discussion of concepts exposed.
Reading:
Barroso et al., 2014. Microbiologia Médica, LIDEL.