Microbiology case study paper

CASE STUDY RUBRIC MICROBIOLOGY

For the Case Study assignment the current pathogen selections may be requested by sending an email to your instructor! Assigned Case Study Problem: You will create a case study for a microbial infection selected from the current pathogen list. Your case study will be assembled using a detailed rubric (see below). Upon completion, you will submit your case study to the Blackboard gradebook in Unit 5 and to SafeAssign. How to create a case study The case studies are meant to be an enjoyable, interesting, and informative assignment. This is your chance to show that you understand the key teaching points about a microbe and to communicate these points in a written format. What information belongs in my case study? Have at least 3-4 key referenced points in each of the five areas shown in the Case Study Information Chart (see below). The left-hand heading in the chart suggests the type of information requested for the pathogen. Outlines can be in whatever form you prefer (bullets/charts/outlines/diagrams or a mix). Be sure to include two discussion questions (and provide complete answers) that you can incorporate into your case study (place them at the end of your write-up). These questions should help connect your case to other material in the course. For example, what other microbes have an A-B toxin? What other viruses are transmitted by fecal-oral spread? How much information should I provide for my case study? For the Case Study, you are asked to provide at least the information requested in the chart below. The boxed questions are suggestions for the minimum amount of information within each category. The more detailed the information, the better the study. You may consult your textbook, CDC, WHO, Access Medicine, Google Scholar, NCBI, WebMD, etc. to find the information. For example, if you perform a Google search using the name of the pathogen and the word ‘vaccine’, you will find information on current vaccines (if any), those in clinical trials, vaccines used only in animals, etc.

Case Study Information Chart Typical Case What does a typical case look like? Use the standard format for a

patient presentation with chief complaint (CC), history of present illness (HPI), key physical exam details (PE), lab findings, signature signs, and any other important findings.

Description of the infectious agent

If it is a bacterium, how is it classified? If it is a virus, what kind of nucleic acid does it have? Does it target specific cellular types (tropism)? Does it form a spore? Is it aerobic? Is it intracellular? Can it only be grown in a specific type of media? How is it distinguished from other members of the species? Does the pathogen have a significant history with humans or animals?

Epidemiology What do you feel are the most important points about the epidemiology of the disease? Incidence? Portal of entry? Source? Is it a normal microbiota component in the human body? Does it only occur in certain populations or certain geographical areas? Is there a vector involved? What and who is the vector? Is it zoonotic? Does it appear

CASE STUDY RUBRIC MICROBIOLOGY

seasonally? Are there currently any outbreaks of this pathogen? What is its ecological niche? Is there a reservoir? Are there currently any outbreaks or epidemics of disease from this pathogen?

Pathogenesis What is the range of diseases caused by the agent? What organs are affected? What symptoms might the patient have? What is the disease course? Will the patient recover? Are there any long-term sequelae of infection? Latency?

Prophylaxis/Treatment Is there an antitoxin? Specific antibiotics or a class of antibiotics that are used? Is there a vaccine available? Is treatment curative? Does infection make you immune? Is this immunity life-long? Is there drug resistance? Are there novel treatments?