Presentation and Management of Respiratory Tract Infections including infections of the ear, nose and throat

Details

Title

Presentation and Management of Respiratory Tract Infections including infections of the ear, nose and throat

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HLS264

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect to developing skills and knowledge required for understanding the presentation and management of respiratory tract infection 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 practise as a Consultant Clinical Scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practise 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:

• the predisposing factors, presentation, microbial causes, differential diagnoses and management of respiratory tract infections:
  • Pneumonia (community- and hospital-acquired, ventilator associated)
  • Pleural effusion, lung abscess and empyema
  • Lower respiratory tract infection in patients with chronic lung disease including cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Infection in the immunocompromised patient
  • Ear infections
  • Prevention of respiratory tract infection by vaccination
• working knowledge of respiratory tract pathogens and the value of molecular methods compared with others for their investigation, including:
  • Pneumococcal infection, tuberculosis, legionellosis, mycoplasmosis, pertussis and other bacterial infections
  • Influenza and other viral infections of the chest and upper airways
  • Aspergillosis
  • Imported fungal infections
  • Pneumocystis
• acquiring some knowledge of molecular methods for typing pathogens (e.g. influenza virus, Streptococcus pneumoniae).

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:

• PCR testing (including multiplex) of respiratory tract samples
• Typing (e.g. sequencing) of influenza virus

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

• liaise with clinical pathology colleagues and the clinical team on the diagnosis and management
• use molecular methods to complement other approaches (e.g. culture, serology) when investigating cases of respiratory/ear, nose and throat infection