PC2201 - Infectious Diseases and Immunology for Pharmacists

Available to level 2 Bachelor of Pharmacy students.

The incidence of infectious and parasitic disease is high in tropical regions of Australia, particularly in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. This subject will present the microbial and parasitic causes, prevention and treatments of infectious and parasitic diseases of importance to pharmacy practice. The role of microbial chemotherapy and vaccination in the treatment and control of infectious diseases and the specific and non-specific mechanisms of microbial resistance will be examined A special focus will be placed on tropical infectious diseases, the infectious diseases of childhood and the preventative and educational role of the pharmacist in the area of immunisation and population health.The evolution, physiology and regulation of the immune system and its role in infectious and auto-immune diseases and in tumor and transplantation biology will also be explored.

Learning Outcomes

• describe the clinical presentation and drug treatment of common childhood and infectious diseases relevant to pharmacy practice;
• describe the pathogenesis of commonly encountered infectious, immunological, haematological, neoplastic diseases and those found in Indigenous populations and tropical areas;
• describe the principles behind rational drug use for the treatment of infection;
• develop an understanding of the major classes of microbes and parasites causing diseases in humans and animals and basic techniques used for their identification and treatment;
• develop an understanding of the pharmacokinetics of the antimicrobials used in the treatment of infection, including the use of therapeutic drug monitoring infectious diseases;
• discuss the population health role and responsibilities of the pharmacist in infectious disease including identification, prevention, education, microbial resistance and the importance of compliance.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.