The pathology resident’s experience in clinical microbiology is based on a rotation through the various units within the laboratory. This provides the resident with a broad-based understanding and exposure to the methodologies and interpretative aspects in each of the respective clinical areas. Resident education in the laboratory is as follows:

1. Routine culture techniques, as well as rapid and innovative techniques, for growing and identifying common aerobic microorganisms from a variety of sources — general microbiology (four weeks).
2. Routine culture techniques, as well as rapid and more innovative techniques, for growing and identifying common anaerobic bacteria, fungi, parasites and mycobacteria from a variety of sources — special microbiology (three weeks).
3. Culture, serologic, and molecular techniques for the detection or identification of clinically significant viruses — clinical virology (two weeks).
4. Clinical infectious diseases correlation, public health microbiology and infection control — (two weeks).
5. Formal training in serology (one week) is addressed in this rotation.

The rotation is designed for the resident to have hands on experience in each of the various laboratory units in order to learn necessary basic culture and serologic techniques. The resident is familiarized with the methods used in the microbiology laboratory for quality control and quality assurance. Residents are provided with a detailed set of learning objectives at the beginning of the rotation, an individual workspace and reference materials. Basic reading materials and practical interpretative information are provided to supplement the rotation. The resident meets on a daily basis with the director and assistant director to discuss various interpretative aspects of the tests. The resident is required to give a case presentation weekly describing the clinical presentation, procedures required for proper specimen collection, isolation and identification of possible pathogens, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, application of molecular tests in the diagnosis of infectious diseases and awareness of clinical relevance of procedures conducted in the laboratory.

Case complexity increases with the level and expertise of the resident. Residents are called upon to interact with physicians ordering laboratory procedures in order to provide feedback on the procedures requested, as well as to gain further clinical information. This rotation provides exposure to personnel and materials management, laboratory regulations and accreditation and development of laboratory research programs. After fundamental knowledge is demonstrated, residents participate in the introduction and selection of new technologies and instruments. The resident is a member of the ID consultative service, a graded responsibility, depending on experience and ability. Residents are invited to attend meetings of the Infections Control Committee. They also learn the role of the clinical microbiology laboratory in supporting the ID service. The rotation also allows interested residents the chance to perform special projects or original research.

1. Interpretative Reports
   Review selected reports on a daily basis with the laboratory director.
2. Consultative Reports
   Participation in generation of consultative reports with medical director on infectious disease service. The resident is an integral member of the consultative team generating these reports
3. Graduated Responsibility
   As skills develop in the section, the resident is given responsibility for evaluation and implementation of new technologies and equipment and participates in decision making. Residents are involved in clinical consultations with the faculty member.