Lectures in Microbiology is a succinct guide, tailored to the CBME curriculum, that aims to equip undergraduate students with relevant knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and responsiveness to be able to function as a physician of first contact. It has been written bearing in mind the reduction in teaching hours as well as revised teaching modalities. The book’s content focuses on providing a better understanding of the interactions between microbes and humans, prevention of infection by general measures, immunoprophylaxis or chemoprophylaxis, as well as prevention of hospital-acquired infections through safe practices in healthcare settings.

It also seeks to aid in the development of the skill required to:

• Collect an optimal sample from a patient for microbiological investigation
• Interpret the result of a microbiology investigation to diagnose an infectious disease in accordance with national programmes
• Choose an appropriate antimicrobial agent to treat an infection and prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in accordance with the National Treatment Guidelines.

The textbook comprises 10 broad sections:

• Section I deals with general microbiologic concepts and Section II with immunology.
• Section III elaborates on musculoskeletal, skin and soft tissue infections, with each chapter focusing on different manifestations.
• Sections IV and V, which focus on cardiovascular system and blood infections and gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary infections, respectively, present up-to-date information on the morphology, life cycle and pathogenesis of individual organisms. The clinical features, diagnosis, management and prevention of the diseases caused by them have also been discussed. Simple life cycle illustrations and microphotographs have been provided for easy learning.
• Section VI focuses on central nervous system infections and Section VII on respiratory tract infections, including up-to-date information on COVID-19.
• Section VIII elaborates on genitourinary and sexually transmitted infections.
• Section IX deals with zoonoses, vector-borne diseases, as well as opportunistic, oncogenic, perinatal, teratogenic, emerging and ocular infections.
• Section X seeks to provide a better understanding of hospital-acquired infections.

The uniqueness of Lectures in Microbiology lies in its simplicity and highly focused approach, and its avoidance of content meant for postgraduates. It uses tables to highlight important data, as well as clinical case studies, illustrations, photographs and SAQs to aid in revision and exam preparation. The book’s straightforward approach is sure to facilitate easy learning and make for pleasant reading.

Dr Nandita Shinkre Banaji graduated from Goa Medical College (Mumbai University) in 1985. She pursued her MD and PhD in Microbiology (Mumbai University) at T. N. Medical College and Nair Hospital, of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, where she continued to serve as a faculty until 2005. She is presently working as Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute (a Govt. of Puducherry institution). She is trained in medical education and is a resource faculty for the NMC’s Revised Basic Course Workshop and Curriculum Implementation Support Programme. She has 30 years of experience in teaching the subject.

During her tenure as the Chairperson of the UG Board of Studies, Faculty of Medicine, at Pondicherry University (2016–2020), Dr Banaji introduced the CBME curriculum to medical graduates. She has also served as a member of the microbiology curriculum development workshop at the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (2001) and on the editorial team of the Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology (2008–2011).

SECTION I: GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY (MI 1.1–1.6, 8.9–8.15)
1. Introduction to Microbiology
2. Classification and Characteristics of Bacteria
3. Classification and Characteristics of Viruses
4. Classification and Characteristics of Fungi
5. Classification and Characteristics of Parasites
6. Infection and Epidemiologic Principles
7. Collection of Samples in Infections
8. Laboratory Diagnosis of Infections
9. Bacterial Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance

SECTION II: IMMUNOLOGY (MI 1.7–1.11)
10. Immunity
11. Antigen and Vaccine
12. Antibody and Complement
13. The Immune System
14. The Immune Response
15. Hypersensitivity
16. Autoimmunity and Immunodeficiency
17. Transplantation and Tumour Immunology

SECTION III: MUSCULOSKELETAL, SKIN AND SOFT TISSUE INFECTIONS (MI 4.1–4.3)
18. Abscess, Cellulitis, Myositis, Tetanus, Infective Arthritis and Osteomyelitis
19. Leprosy and Cutaneous Mycobacterial Infections
20. Viral Infections with Dermal Manifestations
21. Superficial and Subcutaneous Mycotic Infections
22. Parasitic Infections with Dermal Manifestations

SECTION IV: CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM AND BLOOD INFECTIONS (MI 2.1–2.7)
23. Infective Endocarditis, Rheumatic Fever, Bacterial Sepsis, FUO, Anemia, Transfusion and Transplantation-Associated Infections
24. HIV and Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
25. Kala-Azar, Malaria and Filaria

SECTION V: GASTROINTESTINAL AND HEPATOBILIARY INFECTIONS (MI 3.1–3.8)
26. Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Poisoning
27. Infective Diarrhea
28. Dysentery and Acid Peptic Disease
29. Gastrointestinal Infestations
30. Viral Hepatitis
31. Hepatic Cyst and Abscess

SECTION VI: CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM INFECTIONS (MI 5.1–5.3)
32. Meningitis
33. Encephalitis
34. Brain Abscess and Cyst

SECTION VII: RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS (MI 6.1–6.3)
35. Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
36. Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
37. Tuberculosis and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria
38. Respiratory Viral Infections
39. Fungal and Parasitic Pulmonary Disease

SECTION VIII: GENITOURINARY AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (MI 7.1–7.3)
40. Urinary Tract Infection
41. Sexually Transmitted Infections

SECTION IX: ZOONOSES AND OTHER INFECTIONS (MI 8.1–8.4)
 42. Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Infections
43. Opportunistic, Oncogenic, Perinatal, Teratogenic, Emerging and Ocular Infections

SECTION X: HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS (MI 1.5, 8.5–8.8)
44. Hospital-Acquired Infections and Safety Precautions
45. Principles and Practice of Sterilisation and Disinfection
46. Outbreak Investigation and Environmental Surveillance

Further Reading
Index