Useful links
Unit of study_
PHAR5712: Pharmaceutical Microbiology
2025 unit information
This unit of study aims to provide knowledge on the role of micro-organisms in pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences. It applies basic microbiological principles to the production of clean and sterile pharmaceutical products in both community and hospital pharmacy, and in industrial manufacture, and antimicrobial therapies. Topics include the structure, function and importance of the major groups of micro-organisms; host defence mechanisms; pathogenicity and epidemiology of infectious diseases; disinfectants; preservatives; antiseptics; antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, antivirals, and antimicrobial stewardship; principles and methods of sterilisation, aseptic preparation and techniques; cleanroom technology and good manufacturing practice (GMP).
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Medicine and Health
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Pharmacy |
| Credit points | 3 |
|
Prerequisites:
?
|
None |
|---|---|
|
Corequisites:
?
|
None |
| Prohibitions:
?
|
None |
| Assumed knowledge:
?
|
6 credit points of Biochemistry, 12 credit points of Chemistry, 12 credit points of Pharmacology, 12 credit points of Physiology |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. describe and understand organism structures, functions and bio-relationships (in humans and environment) of major microbial groups (e.g. bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa)
- LO2. for each group, describe the pathological processes of infections in humans
- LO3. demonstrate an understanding of processes for preventing infections (e.g. hygiene, infection control processes, antibiotic prophylaxis, antiviral therapy and immunization)
- LO4. demonstrate an understanding of managing infections with pharmaceuticals (including ideas of culture and sensitivity, therapeutic decisions, dosage regimens and theory behind therapeutic failure)
- LO5. demonstrate an understanding of mechanisms, causes and consequences of antimicrobial drug resistance (in particular the relationship with antimicrobial drug misuse/overuse in humans and in animal husbandry)
- LO6. demonstrate an understanding of the principles of disinfection, preservation and sterilisation processes
- LO7. demonstrate an understanding of the sources and potential consequences of contamination in pharmaceutical products
- LO8. demonstrate an understanding of sterile production and good manufacturing pratice
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Semester 1 2025
|
Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
|
Find your current year census dates
Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
