Micro Organism Structure and Biology for Clinical Practice Training

Learning Outcomes

• Distinguish between the major groups of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) based on their structural and biological characteristics.
• Explain the mechanisms by which microorganisms cause disease in humans, including virulence factors and host-pathogen interactions.
• Apply principles of microbial growth, reproduction, and genetics to clinical scenarios such as antimicrobial resistance.
• Demonstrate appropriate specimen collection, handling, and processing techniques for microbiological analysis.
• Evaluate infection prevention and control strategies using knowledge of microorganism transmission and survival.
• Interpret basic microbiological laboratory results to support clinical diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Target Audience

This course is designed for clinical laboratory technicians, nurses, medical students, and other healthcare practitioners who require a working knowledge of microbiology in their daily practice.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

Practical sessions provide hands-on experience in aseptic technique, Gram staining, culture methods, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and specimen handling. Learners will apply theoretical knowledge to simulate clinical laboratory procedures, reinforcing skills essential for infection control and diagnosis.

Practical Activities

• Aseptic Technique and Culture Methods — Learners practice aseptic transfer of microorganisms, streak plating, and inoculation of liquid and solid media using bacterial cultures. (8h)
• Gram Staining and Microscopy — Learners perform Gram staining on known and unknown bacterial samples and observe morphological characteristics under the microscope. (6h)
• Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (Kirby-Bauer) — Learners perform disk diffusion susceptibility testing on bacterial cultures, measure zones of inhibition, and interpret results using CLSI standards. (6h)
• Specimen Collection and Handling Simulation — Using simulated specimens, learners practice proper collection, labeling, transport, and processing of samples for microbiological analysis. (4h)
• Case-Based Laboratory Interpretation — Learners review case studies with laboratory results (culture, Gram stain, susceptibility) and discuss appropriate clinical responses and infection control measures. (6h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	35% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.