MED3105: Chemotherapy of Infectious diseases and Malignancies

The course introduces students to treatment of infectious diseases, infestations and malignancies (cancers) using drugs. Principles of chemotherapy and the concept of antimicrobial and anticancer resistance will be discussed. The course provides knowledge regarding classification of chemotherapeutic agents, their mechanism of actions, indication and contraindication of the various agents, adverse drug reactions and drug interactions, pharmacokinetics of the drugs, dose and suitable routes of administration.  

Learning Objectives  
By the end of the course, students should be able to;  

• Explain the principles of chemotherapy (factors considered when choosing a chemotherapeutic agent). 
• Explain the concept of antimicrobial and anticancer resistance and its clinical implications 
• Classify chemotherapeutic agents basing on the target microorganism, mechanism of action and chemical structure 
• Discuss the pharmacology of the different antimicrobial agents used in treatment of infectious diseases (examples of drugs, antimicrobial spectrum, mechanism of action, mechanism of resistance, PK, indications, Contraindications, side effects and possible drug interactions) 
• Discuss the pharmacology of the different anticancer agents used in treatment of cancers (examples of drugs, mechanism of action, mechanism of resistance, PK, indications, 
• Contraindications, adverse drug reactions and possible drug interactions) 
• Explain the choice, dose and route of administration of chemotherapeutic agents used in treatment of infectious diseases and cancer  
• Explain the pharmacology of vaccines and the role of immunization in the fight against infectious diseases