"Bugs" Computer Program

Introduction: The Bugs computer program is a self-instruction, interactive program which was designed to allow medical students to learn basic microbiology and pathogenesis in a clinical context and to introduce the concept of differential diagnosis of infectious diseases into the students' basic science course of study.

The program consists of:

1. 40 clinical case histories with interspersed application-oriented multiple choice questions (MCQ's) for guided discovery and meaningful learning of principles of basic microbiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of infectious diseases. Instructional feedback is provided after both correct and incorrect responses to the MCQ's;
2. an educational support data base currently containing information on the 130 microbial pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites catalogued as to the disease they cause, signs and symptoms, sources, sites of pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and virulence factors. The data base is a hypercard stack; there is a card for each organism that can be read for a concise summary of pertinent facts. In addition, the index provides a list of all organisms causing, for instance, particular diseases or particular symptoms. Thus, the student can immediately obtain a list of all the organisms that cause, say, meningitis -- or a list of organisms that might be causing watery diarrhea. These lists can be used in the development of a differential diagnosis of the disease present in the case histories. Basic facts regarding diagnostic and virulence factors included on the cards can be used to answer the MCQ's probing the student's understanding of basic microbiology. The program may be linked to visual images using a video monitor and laser videodisc although this is the least developed aspect of the program.

Conclusion: The program has been used in the Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease course for second year medical students at the University of Florida for the past three years. Cases are assigned to complement subjects covered in lectures. Student compliance has been close to 100%. Students report that the program is enjoyable and easy to use. Anecdotal data also indicates that the case histories have been very helpful in preparing the students for their Board exams, and indeed, Board scores have risen dramatically in the past three years.