Antimicrobial resistance - theory and methods

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/antimicrobial-resistance

Introduction

### Course Review: Antimicrobial Resistance - Theory and Methods In the age of increasing health concerns, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a critical subject of study that impacts public health globally. The course "Antimicrobial Resistance - Theory and Methods" on Coursera offers a comprehensive overview of the various facets of this pressing issue. Below, I will detail the content of the course, share my insights regarding its structure, and provide recommendations for potential learners. #### Course Overview The "Antimicrobial Resistance - Theory and Methods" course covers essential aspects of AMR, starting from basic definitions and the fundamental principles of antimicrobials. It dives deep into the mechanisms of resistance, the transformation of bacterial cells, and the prevailing processes that allow resistance to proliferate. Furthermore, the course equips students with practical training in antimicrobial susceptibility testing, essential for understanding and combating AMR effectively. #### Course Structure and Syllabus The course is organized into several modules, each focusing on different dimensions of AMR: 1. **Welcome to the Course**: - This introductory module outlines the course structure, grading system, and fundamental information about the instructors and teaching materials, setting a solid foundation for what learners can expect. 2. **Module A - Antimicrobials and Antimicrobial Action**: - A deep dive into antimicrobials, this module covers their origins, classifications, and mechanisms of action against bacterial cells. It incorporates two lectures and a quiz, providing engaging educational material. 3. **Module B - Antimicrobials and Resistance**: - This section examines the evolution of resistance among bacteria, exploring the causes, mechanisms, and the dissemination of resistance. Understanding these key elements is critical for anyone aiming to work in microbiology or public health. 4. **Module C - Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing**: - Practical and impactful, this module addresses laboratory methods for testing antimicrobial susceptibility, detailing their applications and procedures. 5. **Module D - Interpretation**: -Students gain practical insights into interpreting susceptibility results, equipping them with the skills needed to analyze laboratory data effectively. 6. **Module E - Quality Assurance**: - Quality management and control procedures are pivotal in any laboratory setting. This module explores the principles of QC and QA in relation to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, emphasizing their importance in ensuring accurate results. 7. **Module F - Alternatives to AST - Genome Analysis Tools**: - Innovative and forward-thinking, this module highlights genotypically based methods for identifying resistance genes, introducing tools like Resfinder and My DB Finder that enhance genetic analysis. 8. **Module G - Specific Resistances**: - This module delves into various specific resistances, providing targeted knowledge that is essential for advanced comprehension of AMR. #### Learning Experience The course’s mixed approach of theoretical knowledge and practical applications creates a well-rounded educational experience. The lectures are well-structured, insightful, and informative. The quizzes at the end of the modules test your understanding and reinforce knowledge retention. The inclusion of current research tools like Resfinder and My DB Finder showcases the relevance of this course to current scientific inquiries and practices. #### Recommendation I highly recommend the "Antimicrobial Resistance - Theory and Methods" course to anyone interested in microbiology, public health, or infectious diseases. It is especially beneficial for students and professionals looking to deepen their understanding of AMR, develop laboratory skills, and enhance their ability to interpret complex data. Whether you are a healthcare professional, a researcher, or simply someone passionate about understanding one of the most urgent health challenges today, this course will undoubtedly equip you with valuable knowledge and practical skills. Moreover, the engaging content and the expertise of the instructors make this course a worthwhile investment in your professional development. In conclusion, delve deep into the world of antimicrobial resistance with this meticulously crafted course, and emerge with insights that can contribute positively to public health endeavors and the fight against infectious diseases.

Syllabus

Welcome to the course

This module is basically a welcome to the course were you can find information on the Course structure, the contents you will be learning in the next modules, the grading, and introduction to the instructors and to the teaching material.

Antimicrobials and antimicrobial action ( includes two lectures and one quiz). Here you will learn a lot about antibiotics/ antimicrobials and you will know more about:what they are, where do they come from, what are the major groups and how can we classify them, how do they have an effect, how do they act on the bacterial cells

This module containd information about antimicrobials and the development of resistance in bacteria including causes for resistance and their mechanisms, as well as an insight in how resistance disseminates and how it can be selected.

This module deals with antimicrobial susceptibility testing in the laboratory: its importance and use, descriptions of the methods and their applications and detailed descriptions of the procedures applied for the main methods.

This module gives practical insight on how to interpret antimicrobial susceptibility results.

This module is dedicated to Quality management and Quality assurance (QA/ Quality control (QC) procedures and use of QC strains to assure the qulaity of results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing: importance, elements and principles.

As alternative to the phenotypical methods, the researcher might decide to use genotypically based methods to identify genes of interest. in the lectures of this module we present the Resfinder tool which may be used to find resistance mechanisms ( genes and in the future versions also specific point mutations)from Whole genome sequences of bacteria of interest. The second Lecture is a demonstration of the My DB Finder which can be used to identify genes of interest defined by the user from Whole genome sequence data.