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Unit of study_

PHAR5712: Pharmaceutical Microbiology

2024 unit information

This unit of study aims to provide knowledge on the role of micro-organisms in pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences. It applies basic microbiological principles to the production of clean and sterile pharmaceutical products in both community and hospital pharmacy, and in industrial manufacture, and antimicrobial therapies. Topics include the structure, function and importance of the major groups of micro-organisms; host defence mechanisms; pathogenicity and epidemiology of infectious diseases; disinfectants; preservatives; antiseptics; antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, antivirals, and antimicrobial stewardship; principles and methods of sterilisation, aseptic preparation and techniques; cleanroom technology and good manufacturing practice (GMP).

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Medicine and Health

Study level Postgraduate
Academic unit Pharmacy
Credit points 3
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
? 
None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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6 credit points of Biochemistry, 12 credit points of Chemistry, 12 credit points of Pharmacology, 12 credit points of Physiology

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. describe and understand organism structures, functions and bio-relationships (in humans and environment) of major microbial groups (e.g. bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa)
  • LO2. for each group, describe the pathological processes of infections in humans
  • LO3. demonstrate an understanding of processes for preventing infections (e.g. hygiene, infection control processes, antibiotic prophylaxis, antiviral therapy and immunization)
  • LO4. demonstrate an understanding of managing infections with pharmaceuticals (including ideas of culture and sensitivity, therapeutic decisions, dosage regimens and theory behind therapeutic failure)
  • LO5. demonstrate an understanding of mechanisms, causes and consequences of antimicrobial drug resistance (in particular the relationship with antimicrobial drug misuse/overuse in humans and in animal husbandry)
  • LO6. demonstrate an understanding of the principles of disinfection, preservation and sterilisation processes
  • LO7. demonstrate an understanding of the sources and potential consequences of contamination in pharmaceutical products
  • LO8. demonstrate an understanding of sterile production and good manufacturing pratice

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.