TEACHING INFECTION TO MEDICAL STUDENTS

1. Dr.T.V.Rao MD
I just inquire the students on many academic matters, my priority
continues to know whether our teachings in Microbiology makes any sense to progress
further in understanding the Infectious diseases, I find students are always honest to talk
truth when they pass the examination, when they have no fear that we are biased to them ,
However they say “ Now we find microbiology all the important to know understand and
practice, as every clinical subject is based on basis of Infection they wish they should have
learnt the topics more with clinical integration creating an approach through the disease.
Basic sciences, including Microbiology are foundations of Medical knowledge to make better
Doctors. However it continues to expand with many chapters with arrivals of emerging and
remembering microbes. As long is prolonged with available of basic and super speciality
care I have been teaching Microbiology for years with several dogmatic ideas and rigid to
the orthodoxy as taught by our teachers, anyhow our aim today to create a little interest in
the matters with a patient in mind or else the students just study Microbiology like a life less
subject and forget. If we realize the importance of Microbiology, if one is good in basic
aspects of Medical Microbiology they will continue to be good in Community medicine,
Medicine, as major topics are related to Microbiology, and all other clinical subjects, even
the sub specializes as ENT and Ophthalmology contain a Major question on Infection related
problems. Many teachers have not tuned to realities of Microbiology live with dogmatism
and its onward importance as Infectious diseases. Everyone in the hospital has a role in
keeping the number of infections as low as possible. You can help prevent infections in the
hospital because you’re part of the team too. I do believe and you are Doctor if you identify
the Infection next course is simple as Hospital acquired infection prove a great challenge to
our physicians however little can be done in the real circumstances. Hospital acquired
infections affect millions patients in India like any other developing country in the world,
however it is no less even in Developed countries. I just do not think as static microbiologist
siting in an arm chair relaxing we should start assuming to be Infection prevention
specialists help to prevent hospital-acquired infections by: educating our Medical Students
on simple matters as,
Identifying risks for infection
Teaching proper hand-hygiene practices
Recommending ways to prevent infection
Consulting when isolation precautions are needed
My wish continues the best message to help the profession when the young Medicos and
Doctors will arise and awake on INFECTION IS A MAJOR KILLER, when the students
understand the importance of infection so many lives can be saved and above all
unnecessary costs on Antibiotics is reduced to minimal amounts. I try doing to educate the
Medical students and house surgeons as they are best liaison to educate the patients I wish

2. if the young Doctors start communication to patients on infection and their better survival
when the Hospital associated infection are major killers, it is wondrous our students can
teach and educate the patients a little of prevention of education let our students teach our
patients to care themselves to prevent the infection
Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand wash frequently, especially after using the
bathroom and before eating.
Remind people caring for you to wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand wash before
touching you.
If you have an IV, keep the site clean and dry.
If you have an operation, call your nurse if the bandage becomes loose or wet.
If you have a tube to drain urine or a wound, tell your nurse if it gets loose or comes out.
Tell relatives and friends not to visit you if they have a cold or feel sick.
Tell the people taking care of you if you have been exposed to a contagious disease recently
(chickenpox, influenza, other communicable diseases, etc.).
INFECTION PREVENTION IN THE HOSPITAL REMEMBER HAND WASHING SAVES MANY
LIVES
Hand washing is most important! Use either soap and water or alcohol-based hand wash
that is provided.
All hospital staff follow precautions when caring for patients. This means that all health care
workers wash their hands (or use alcohol-based hand wash) and may wear gloves, gowns or
eye wear. This protects you from infections and staff from exposure to blood or body fluids.
Some illnesses require additional precautions. If needed, an isolation sign will be placed
outside your room. It does not list your illness, but tells staff and visitors about precautions
to help prevent spread of disease.
Whatever advanced in Microbiological diagnosis they are not available to many of us the
younger generation of Doctors should be champions to promote hand washing, we can train
and instruct patients on how the most effective way to prevent infections is by frequent
hand washing. That is the first line of defences to prevent the spread of Infection. Hands
may spread hundreds of microorganisms to our clothes, meals, environment or skin.
Providing medical students with knowledge and ensuring that they acquire the correct
practical skills in infection control is important. The approach within the medical schools /
colleges needs to be researched and formulated to bridge this disconnect between faculty
and students. Contextualizing education and assessment in the clinical setting may also
improve learning outcomes; however studies with a larger and more diverse sample are
needed to confirm this approach.

3. I WISH THAT MEDICAL COUNCIL, UNIVERSITIES SHOULD INTRODUCE THE FOLLOWING
TOPICS TO OUR MEDICAL STUDENTS IN BASIC CURRICULUM IN OUR TEACHINGS IN
MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
1 Infection control Protocols including the HAND WASHING
2 USE MISUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS AND CONSEQUENCES – ANTIBIOTIC POLICY
3 ANTIBIOTIC STEWARDSHIP
Let my good friends in Profession try improving the matters on control on infectious
diseases to bring out the aspect as students like contextualizing the learning as being a part
of curriculum would involve theory, demonstrations and practice in clinical environment.
This has been found to be effective by many in the world.
LET US NOT FORGET THE INFECTION ANTIBIOTIC MISUSE AND DRUG
RESISTANCE, IS OUR PRIORITY HOW MUCH, WE ARE TO THE MATTERS
MAKES THE DIFFERENCE TO LIFE IN OUR HOSPITALS?
Dr.T.V.Rao MD Professor of Microbiology Freelance Writer