Essentials of microbiology: An integrated & clinical case based approach

Training in the discipline of Microbiology for MBBS students has remained a matter of discussion for a long time. Although the relevance of this subject for medical students was never undermined as infectious diseases continue to pose public health problem worldwide, the need for the existing curricula with a large volume of knowledge-based content is less acceptable. In Medical Education, problem-based or competency-based education is getting more acceptance with students and teachers. This is easily applied to the medicine- and surgery-related specialities; however, for Microbiology, the challenge is great. What is being taught in conventional methods of teaching is not really applicable to the clinical practice or national health priorities. Integrated clinical-based studies of various infectious diseases or syndromes can make a student understand the need for the study of Microbiology in Medicine, which is the spirit underlying the competency based medical education (CBME).

Hence, with the curriculum modified to competency based, the challenge adapting to the modified methods of teaching and assessment. Assessment is a very important component, which drives learning. To achieve that, there is a need of a book to guide from this perspective. The existing textbooks were not able to address some of these aspects as these were written from a different perspective. In this scenario, a new book written afresh with revised content to address the CBME is welcome. The book is exhaustive and broadly divided into 1 sections. The tool for the assessment of competency-based education is also addressed in this book.

Section I on the general Microbiology has been put interestingly in context of clinical practice, highlighting its applied importance while retaining the basic information of microorganisms. Section II: Immunology is simplified with diagnostic significance added. Section III on infectious disease syndromes is a totally new addition for a Microbiology textbook, especially oncogenic component. Future sections focused on basic knowledge – regarding virulence/pathogeneses in Bacteriology/Virology/Parasitology/Mycology – has been addressed which retains the knowledge domain, and integration with clinical cases is an added value. Chapters on infection control and pandemic outbreak management, healthcare-associated infections and SARS-CoV-2 are also updated. The important text has been highlighted, where needed foot notes have been added, text changes to capture attention simplified figures and drawings add to the clarity of the understanding of the subject.

Overall this book is a good resource of CBME in Microbiology for students and will be a good addition to the library.