Microbiology course in MBBS

Microbiology, in general, is the extensive study of microorganisms and their effect on the human body and environment.  The microbiology subject is in the 2^nd prof of the MBBS curriculum. According to the new CBME curriculum, the microbiology course is divided into two sections, (1) General Microbiology including Immunology, Hospital infection control, and (2) Systemic Microbiology. The course is extensive and more lab-oriented. The purpose of the microbiology course in the MBBS curriculum is to provide an understanding of microorganisms and infectious diseases. The microbiology course details include the way to deal with etiology, pathogenesis, laboratory diagnosis, treatment, and control of infectious diseases. The course makes the medicos able to interpret laboratory investigations for diagnosis and clinical manifestations of infectious diseases and plan accordingly.

Recommended books

The recommended books for microbiology coursesfor undergraduates include “Essentials of Medical Microbiology”, “Review of Microbiology and Immunology” and “Essentials of Medical Parasitology” by Dr. Apurba Sastry and Sandhya Bhat. Another preferred book is “Paniker’s Textbook of Medical Parasitology” by Sougata Ghosh.

Online Resources

To supplement your learning of Microbiology, you can refer to the best online Microbiology for UnderGrads courses by the eminent faculty. Choose Microbiology Undergraduate courses online that provide highly illustrative video lectures with notes and are designed as per the new CBME curriculum. Through online MBBS courses, you also get access to self-assessment questions to analyze your learning and excel in exams.

Important topics of Microbiology in MBBS

The important Microbiology topics for prof exams and competitive exams like NEET-PG and INI-CET exams include

·        Bacterial cell wall

·        Bacterial toxins

·        Antiseptics and disinfectants

·        Lab diagnosis of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Pneumococcus,

·        Hepatitis B

·        Lab diagnosis

·        Corona

·        HIV

·        ELISA

·        Dermatophytes

·        Mycetoma

·        Structure of an antibody

·        Various classes of immunoglobulin

·        Life cycles of parasites

·        Clinical manifestations of Ascaris, Trichuria, Enterobius, Echinococcosis (Hydatid cyst), Entamoeba, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Plasmodium

·        Vaccination

Scope of Microbiology and Job prospects

The study of microbiology already had applications in the medical sciences but after Covid-19, the microbiology course has gained much significance as the world is quite shocked and astonished to see how a small microbe can lead to havoc and pandemic across the globe. There are microbes all around and a microbiology course is vital to identify healthy microbes like the ones which facilitate digestion and others are pathogens like the ones causing deadly diseases such as HIV, and Covid-19.

The Microbiology course has a diversified scope in pharmaceuticals, research institutions, genetics food and beverage industry, agriculture, environmental area, etc. Microbiologists can also work in the vaccination areas and national health organizations.

One with a Microbiology degree can get employment in government laboratories, private institutions, medical and allied health science colleges, hospitals, and research institutions with the following job profiles:

·        Microbiologists

·        Virologists

·        Quality control analyst

·        Biomedical scientist

·        Mycologist

·        Immunologists

·        Microbiology professors

·        Environmental microbiologists

·        Clinical researcher, and more.

Salary

The salary of a microbiologist varies as per the qualification and the job profile. On average, the initial salary for a beginner in the microbiology field is around INR 5 lakhs. More experience, more income. With time microbiology leads to a highly lucrative and stable career. The salary, perks, and benefits all vary on the organization you are working in whether it is government, private, or any research centre.

Tips to study Microbiology in MBBS

To excel in exams, a medico must make and follow an effective preparation strategy and study on regular basis. Reading at the eleventh hour can gain you passing marks, but you’ll never be able to get conceptual clarity of the subject and crack any competitive examinations. Adopt the technique of Reading, Revising, and Solving. Read the topics thoroughly, revise timely and solve the questions of each topic and previous years as well. Attend the lab sessions attentively as it is a highly lab-oriented subject.