Microbiology Rotation
Residents gain experience in Medical Microbiology through two separate two month rotations at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS). Residents wishing to have additional exposure to Microbiology may choose to spend part of their elective time in Virology at the China Basin laboratory facility.
Resident training in Medical Microbiology includes exposure to fundamental testing principles in bacteriology, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, mycology, parasitology, mycobacteriology, virology, infectious disease serology, and molecular diagnostics. At SFGH residents also learn about infectious diseases seen in a broad patient population including HIV positive patients, immigrants, homeless patients, IV drug users, and trauma patients. At SFVAHCS Residents also learn about infectious diseases seen in primarily in men including chronic diseases.
Residents gain practical experience by
- Observing culture work-up and organism identification in all areas of the laboratory
- Presenting cases and diagnostic material at weekly plate rounds with the Infectious Disease team
- Participating in daily work rounds which includes discussion of difficult cultures with the Division Chief and Supervisor
- Working up unknown cultures and slides in mycology and parasitology
At ZSFG, residents actively participate in teaching UCSF Medical Students who rotate through the microbiology lab during a course in Laboratory Medicine and they present a journal club on a Microbiology topic and a Continuing Education talk for Laboratory Staff during their two-month rotation.