Pre-Congress Workshops

Beauty of The Beast: Visual Guide and Case Scenario

Workshop overview

This workshop is designed to provide a comprehensive, practice-oriented update on clinical microbiology and infectious diseases, with a focus on visual learning and interactive case-based discussions. The program will emphasize the integration of laboratory findings and clinical judgment, empowering participants to make timely, evidence-based decisions in patient care.

Through a combination of microscopic demonstrations, visual guides, and real-world clinical scenarios, participants will gain deeper insights into both fundamental and advanced aspects of infectious disease diagnostics and management.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Apply visual diagnostic skills in microscopic evaluation and rapid interpretation of clinical specimens.
• Identify critical considerations and pitfalls in standard antibiotic susceptibility testing.
• Strengthen the link between clinical presentations and microbiological findings to improve diagnostic accuracy.
• Explore the role and limitations of point-of-care diagnostic methods in infectious disease practice.
• Enhance clinical decision-making through discussion of challenging case scenarios.

Workshop Highlights

1. Microscopic Diagnosis and Rapid Interpretation
   • Key morphological features of bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
   • Pattern recognition in Gram stains, fungal preparations, and blood smears.
   • Practical pearls for rapid reporting and communication with clinicians.
2. Critical Points in Standard Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing
   • Methodologies (disc diffusion, MIC determination, automated systems).
   • Common errors and interpretative challenges.
   • Updates on resistance mechanisms and their clinical implications.
3. Clinical and Microbiological Correlations
   • Case-based integration of laboratory findings with clinical scenarios.
   • Examples of how microbiological data guide therapeutic choices.
   • When to suspect unusual or emerging pathogens.
4. Point-of-Care Diagnosis in Clinical Infectious Diseases
   • Rapid antigen, molecular, and lateral flow assays.
   • Utility in emergency and resource-limited settings.
   • Balancing speed, accuracy, and clinical relevance.
5. Interactive Case Scenario Discussions
   • Real-life cases presented step by step.
   • Audience participation in diagnostic reasoning.
   • Practical management strategies and lessons learned.

Target Audience (maximum 40 attendees)

• Clinical microbiologists
• Infectious disease specialists
• Internal medicine and pediatric physicians
• Pathologists, residents, and fellows
• Laboratory technologists and healthcare professionals involved in infection management

Format

• Date and Time: Sunday, 2 November 2025, 9.00-11.00 AM
• Duration: 120 minutes
• Structure: Keynote lectures, interactive microscopy sessions, case-based discussions, and Q&A panels.
• Delivery: On-site workshop

Expected Outcomes

Participants will leave the workshop with enhanced skills in visual diagnosis, interpretation of laboratory data, and clinical correlation, allowing them to contribute more effectively to patient care and antimicrobial stewardship in their institution