DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY

Introduction:

Department of Microbiology was incorporated in Government Medical College, Akola in 2002 as one of the second year subject with the aim of providing quality education to undergraduate and patient care. The department is permitted by MCI for the Postgraduate M. D. Microbiology course since 2014.The department if affiliated with MUHS, Nashik for the PG-DMLT and BPMT-Laboratory technician courses. The department has eight service laboratories for Bacteriology (Aerobic and anaerobic), Mycobacteriology including CBNAAT, Parasitology, Mycology, Immunology Including CD4, Serology, Virology.

Department has conducted the Maharashtra Chapter State conference of Microbiology under Indian Association of Medical Microbiologist (IAMM) in 2009.

Department was host for the Vidharba level Undergraduate Quiz – for two times. Department also participates in national programmes which includes National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme(NVBDCP), Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), Integrated diseases Control Programme (IDSP),we are State Reference Laboratory (SRL) under National Aids Control Organisation(NACO).

Department participates in EQAS of IAMM and For CD4 and HIV under National Reference Laboratories. The department has staff as required for Post Graduates in accordance of MCI i.e. One Professor and Head, 2 Associate Professors, 3 Assistant Professors and 4 Tutors.

The department provides basic training in Microbiology to undergraduates, postgraduates, PG-DMLTs and BPMT. The department also regularly conducts training and workshops for health care workers for biomedical waste management, Infection control and any emerging infectious diseases. Under state reference laboratory (SRL) quarterly training programmes are arranged for technical officers and Laboratory technicians. The staff of the department are giving their expertise in public health as Rapid task force member, Death audit, Vaccine related complications, Training the Malaria department etc. Department also actively involved in laboratory investigations for clinical diagnosis in patient care and undertakes research activities.

The department caters patients not only from Akola, but also from Buldhana, Washim and Amravati districts under various national programmes.

Mission:
The undergraduate student at the end of one and half years should be able to:

• State the aetiology, pathogenesis and methods of laboratory diagnosis and apply that knowledge in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of communicable diseases caused by microorganisms.
• Understand commensal, opportunistic and pathogenic organisms of human body and describe host parasite relationship.
• Know and describe the pathogenesis of diseases caused by microorganisms.
• State the sources and modes of transmission of pathogenic and opportunistic micro-organisms including knowledge of insect vectors and their role in transmission of infectious diseases.
• Choose appropriate laboratory investigations required for clinical diagnosis.
The postgraduate student at the end of the course shall be able to:
• State and explain the clinical features, aetiology, pathogenesis and methods of laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases and apply that knowledge in the treatment, prevention and control of communicable diseases caused by micro-organisms.
• State and explain the principles of immunity and immunological phenomenon which help to understand the pathogenesis, laboratory diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious diseases.
• Establish and practice "laboratory medicine" for diagnosis of infectious diseases in hospitals and community in the field of bacteriology, parasitology, virology, mycology, serology and immunology in the light of clinical findings.
• Organize the prevention and control of communicable diseases in the community.
• Understand and practice the principle of prevention and control of health care associated infections and rational antibiotic policy
• State the recent advances in the field of Medical Microbiology and apply this knowledge in understanding aetiopathogenesis and diagnosis of diseases caused by micro-organisms
• Carry out fundamental or applied research in the branches of medicine involving microbiological work.

Vision:
As a teaching institute we are committed to train the students both undergraduates and postgraduates so that they become competent, skilful, ethical, knowledgeable and on whom a society can rely.

• We prepare our undergraduate students by providing the knowledge of infectious diseases in order to deal with the etiology, pathogenesis, pathogenicity, laboratory diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention of these infections and infectious diseases. Our postgraduate student is trained so as to
• Recognize the health needs of the community and carry out professional obligations ethically in keeping with the objectives of the national health policy.
• Master most of the competencies, pertaining to medical diagnostic microbiology that are required to be practiced at the secondary and tertiary levels of the health care delivery system;
• To be aware of the contemporary advances and developments in the field of medical and diagnostic Microbiology
• To acquire the spirit of scientific inquiry and is oriented to the principles of research methodology and epidemiology
• To acquire the basic skills of teaching of the medical and paramedical professionals

Functions and Objectives:

• Plan and interpret laboratory investigations for diagnosis of infectious diseases and correlate the clinical manifestations with the etiological agent.
• Identify common infectious agents with the help of laboratory procedure; acquire knowledge of antimicrobial agents, use of antimicrobial sensitivity tests to select suitable antimicrobial agents for treatment.
• Perform simple laboratory tests, which help to arrive at rapid diagnosis.
• To be conversant with proper methods of collection, storage and transport of clinical material for microbiological investigations.
• Understand the principles of immunology and its application in the diagnosis and prevention of infectious diseases including immunization schedule, acquire knowledge of the scope of immunotherapy and different vaccines available for the prevention of communicable diseases.
• Understand methods of disinfection and sterilization and their application to control and prevent hospital and community acquired infections including universal biosafety precautions and waste disposal.
• Recommend laboratory investigations regarding bacteriological examination of food, water, milk and air.
• The student should be well equipped with the knowledge of prevalent communicable diseases of national importance and of the newer emerging pathogens

Organization structure & Chart:

Dean, Government Medical College, Akola.
Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Akola.
Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology
Teaching Staff	Non-teaching Staff
One – Professor	Three- Technician
Two –Associate Professors	Four- Technical assistant
Four - Tutors	One-Store Keeper cum record clerk
One- Junior resident 3	One-Steno typist/Computer Operator
Two- Junior resident 2	Two-Sweepers
Two- Junior resident 1	State Reference Lab One-Technical officer One- Laboratory technician
	CBNAAT One- Technician
	ICTC Two-Technician Two-Counsellor

Awards & Achievements

Poster presentation ( Dr.Apurva Parate)	Pneumonia due to Empedobacter brevis, a case report	XX Maharashtra Chapter Conference of Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists, 19-21 September, 2014
Poster presentation ( Dr.Apurva Parate)	Study of malaria cases by rapid diagnostic test (rdt) at government medical college and hospital, Akola	XXI Maharashtra Chapter Conference of Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists
Syndicate seminar- First Prize ( Dr.Apurva Parate)	Hepatitis E virus	VAMM, 29 march, 2016
MET PPT presentation- Third Prize ( Dr.Apurva Parate)	Hepatitis E virus	MET unit, Nagpur 5 April, 2016
Poster presentation (Dr.Poojashri Sharma)	Title- Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection in Indoor patients of a tertiary care hospital	XXI Maharashtra Chapter Conference of Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists

Department of Microbiology participation show both responsibility and ability to work alongside others. Awards are another strong academic achievements. Post graduate students of Department of Microbiology continue to excel. Here are some achievements from the past years.

Monthly Abstract of Investigations in Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ( 2014 )



Monthly Abstract of Investigations in Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ( 2013 ) Monthly Abstract of Investigations in Clinical Microbiology Laboratory ( 2012 )