LQB201 Microbiology and Infection Control for Podiatrists

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Podiatrists require a strong knowledge base in microbiology on which to base future studies within their discipline and for their professional practice.

A detailed knowledge of infectious agents, their structure, prevalence and pathogenicity will enable you to apply these concepts to infection control to prevent the transmission of disease and to understand the mode of action of antimicrobials. You will also study infectious agents that are aetiological agents of disease states of public health significance or of the feet, and appropriate methods for the management and treatment of these disease states. Basic knowledge of biology and chemistry is assumed for this unit.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Apply your knowledge and understanding of infectious agents and skills to differentiate the different types of microorganisms, to prevent transmission of disease and to implement sustainable infection control methods.
2. Apply your knowledge and understanding of the detection and diagnosis of a range of microorganisms, aseptic techniques including the collection of appropriate clinical specimens, and the progression and principles of infectious disease.
3. Use your developing critical thinking skills to analyse case histories and data, methods and strategies to formulate conclusions.
4. Apply your knowledge of microbiology when writing including the appropriate use of microbiological terms, the correct use of microbial nomenclature, and also in the interpretation of experimental results.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit will integrate your knowledge and practical skills so that you can apply these to real world professional practice. The learning and teaching strategies that will enable you to do this are:

(i) the integration of theory and practical skills, by introducing you to microbiology and immunology knowledge and methods of control of microorganisms.

(ii) the development of foundation knowledge, understanding and application skills using self-directed activities that also include online activities and the critical analyses of your findings.

(iii) authentic learning experiences including analysing and interpreting experimental results, researching and reviewing relevant literature, and online references.

The teaching team will communicate with you by e-mail and online notices. Lecture notes, formative questions to test your understanding of the lectures, feedback to the formative assessment and all of the practical resources necessary for this unit will be posted online via the unit Canvas site.

There will be a practical activity in the QUT podiatry clinic that will provide orientation to the facility where you will undertake future clinical placements. You must comply with the policies and procedures of the clinic during this practical activity. Failure to comply with the policies and procedures may lead to exclusion from the clinics and inability to complete the unit assessment.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

This unit consists of weekly self-directed digital learning modules, a workshop, and laboratory-based practical sessions. Workshops will build understanding of content provided in the weekly digital learning modules and provide opportunities to practice and develop analysis and problem-solving skills. The practical sessions will be presented using the chain of infection as the focal point for interrupting transmission of infectious agents to susceptible hosts. Self-directed learning will be encouraged by giving you access to online resources, while the workshops and practicals will encourage a collaborative student-centred learning environment.

Assessment

Overview

This unit has a combination of formative, formative and summative and summative assessment items. You are most welcome to contact lecturers with specific questions for help with difficult concepts.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Infectious Disease Risk Assessment

Preparation of an infectious disease risk assessment. This assessment is aligned with the activity in the QUT Podiatry clinic and practical classes.

You are a podiatrist tasked with training new staff in infection control to ensure safe and sustainable practice. To prepare for this role, you will perform a series of experiments in the laboratory to evaluate your hand hygiene and surface disinfection efficacy. You will critically evaluate your experimental results and leverage these to create and describe a list of strategies for inclusion in an infection control risk assessment for the infection control team within the podiatry clinic. The aim of the risk assessment is to ensure that new staff understand and can meet the infection control standards established in the professional competency framework by effectively interrupting links in the chain of infection.

Your risk assessment will include images captured in the laboratory, description and critique of your own results, and results from environmental sampling in the podiatry clinic. You will complete an online interview with the infection control manager to answer specific questions about methods for sustainably reducing the risk of transmission of infectious agents to people and the healthcare environment based on what you learn by performing and evaluating your own infection control processes, in addition to providing constructive feedback of peer results. The assessment will be submitted via Canvas.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details page for specific guidelines.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Theory Examination

Your understanding of the concepts presented in this unit will be assessed through multiple choice questions and a series of case study based questions.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

COVID-19 Vaccine Evidence: It is a mandatory requirement to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the QUT Podiatry Clinic.

Costs

Cost of lab gowns and safety protection glasses are the students responsibility.

Resources

Resource Materials

Safety and protective equipment

Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:

1. Laboratory Gown - Rear fastening 100% cotton or polyester/cotton mix
2. Safety eye protection glasses - selected and used in accordance with Australian Safety Standards
3. Fully enclosed non-slip shoes

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit includes laboratory and clinic-based components in on-campus facilities. In order that you become proficient in necessary practical skills, you will be trained in the handling of equipment, materials and specimens normally associated with this discipline. You are required to view a Health & Safety Induction video and complete an online health and safety quiz prior to being permitted into the laboratory, to access please follow this link Health & Safety Induction. A passing score of 10/10 is required and will be checked prior to entry to the first laboratory session. You may repeat the quiz until this score is achieved. You are also referred to the Faculty of Health's Health & Safety Web Site for further information.

The management of risks in the QUT Podiatry Clinic is the responsibility of all stakeholders. In order to enter the clinic as a visitor you have a responsibility to minimise risk to yourself, staff, and clients while in the clinic. Protective clothing is required to be worn at all times in the laboratories (eg. lab gown and safety glasses) along with enclosed footwear and a surgical mask in the clinic.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the lecturer in charge of the unit, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.