Mycology

Details

Title

Mycology

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HLS231

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of mycology, be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform, adapt and master a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures and
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• aetiology, risk factors, clinical presentation and treatment of fungal infections of skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes
• aetiology, risk factors and clinical presentation of systemic and deep mycoses including candidosis, cryptococcosis, aspergillosis, mucormycosis, hyalohyphomycosis, phaeohyphomycosis and Pneumocystis jirovecii infection
• aetiology, risk factors and clinical presentation of imported endemic mycoses due to Hazard Group 3 fungi including histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis and Penicillium marneffei infection
• principles of the methods of diagnosis of fungal infection
• use of appropriate antifungal agents
• methods available for susceptibility testing and their limitations
• use of chemoprophylaxis and environmental measures to prevent infection in the immunocompromised.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance, adaptation and mastery of the following technical procedures and laboratory skills to:

• recognise clinical features of superficial infection caused by dermatophytes and yeasts
  • examine skin, hair, nails, etc. for presence of fungal elements
  • identify yeast, dermatophyte fungi and other common moulds from clinical material
  • recommend appropriate treatment
• carry out a patient risk assessment for systemic infection or infection acquired from endemic area
  • request appropriate specimens for diagnosis and reference laboratory tests including appropriate serological and molecular tests as available
  • understand the methods and interpretation of fungal diagnostic tests and speciation including microscopy, culture, molecular methods, and antigen detection tests, e.g. galactomannan, mannan, cryptococcal antigen, and β-D-glucan
  • identify clinically significant yeasts and filamentous fungi, recognising the relevance of identification to species level
  • recognise when susceptibility testing is required for fungi in an individual patient
  • recognise when antifungal blood levels are required

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to apply knowledge of mycology to perform, adapt and master the clinical skills necessary to:

• advise and communicate effectively with relevant clinicians and other healthcare professionals listening, responding to questions and defending the advice given in relation to the range of mycological infections described above.