General Microbiology
Subject Overview
General Microbiology gives the historical and practical grounding for every microbiology paper that follows: the host-microbe relationship, safety in a clinical microbiology lab, the glassware and equipment used, and the theory and operation of light, fluorescent, phase-contrast and electron microscopes. It covers sterilization and disinfection principles in depth, biomedical waste management, and finishes with bacterial classification, growth and nutrition, culture media types, and aerobic/anaerobic culture methods. A 4-credit core theory paper.
Unit-wise Syllabus
4 units — click WhatsApp below to get the full notes for each
Unit 1: Introduction and laboratory practice
Definition and history of medical microbiology, host-microbe relationship, safety measures, glassware care and handling, equipment used in a clinical microbiology laboratory
Unit 2: Microscopy
History and types of microscope — light, DGI, fluorescent, phase contrast, electron (transmission and scanning); principles and operational mechanisms of each
Unit 3: Sterilization and disinfection
Definition, types and principles of sterilization — heat (dry/moist, autoclave), radiation, filtration; efficiency testing of sterilizers; antiseptics and disinfectants — types, properties, mode of action, in-house preparation and efficiency testing; biomedical waste management in a microbiology lab
Unit 4: Bacterial classification, growth and culture
General characteristics and classification of bacteria and fungi, bacterial anatomy, nutrition and growth requirements, the bacterial growth curve, synchronous/static/continuous cultures, classification of culture media (solid, liquid, semisolid, synthetic, basal, enriched, selective, differential, transport, preservation, anaerobic), aerobic and anaerobic culture methods