MD Microbiology In India: Check Out Admission Process, Fees, Medical Colleges To Apply, Eligibility Criteria

MD Microbiology or Doctor of Medicine in Microbiology, also known as MD in Microbiology, is a Postgraduate level course for doctors in India that is done by them after completion of their MBBS. The duration of this postgraduate course is three years, and it focuses on the study of various concepts related to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of all infectious diseases and understanding of the pathogenesis and laboratory diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious diseases.

The course is a full-time course pursued at various recognized medical colleges across the country. Some of the top medical colleges offering this course include Narayana Medical College (Nellore), Kurnool Medical College (Kurnool), Gauhati Medical College(Guwahati), Government Medical College(Chandigarh), and more.

Admission to this course is done through the NEET PG Entrance exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations, followed by counseling based on the scores of the exam that is conducted by DGHS/MCC/State Authorities.

The fee for pursuing an MD (Microbiology) varies from college to college and is Rs. 42,000 to Rs. 12.3 Lakhs per year.

After completion of their respective course, doctors can either join the job market or pursue a super-specialization course where MD Microbiology is a feeder qualification. Candidates can take reputed jobs in positions as Senior residents, Junior Consultants, Consultants, etc., with an approximate salary range of Rs. 5 lakh – Rs. 13 lakh per annum.

What is MD in Microbiology?

Doctor of Medicine in Microbiology, also known as M.D. (Microbiology), is a three-year postgraduate programme that candidates can pursue after completing MBBS.

Microbiology is the branch of medical science dealing with the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. 

National Medical Commission (NMC), the apex medical regulator, has released a Guidelines for Competency-Based Postgraduate Training Programme for MD in Microbiology.

The Competency-Based Postgraduate Training Programme governs the education and training of MDs in Microbiology.

The PG education intends to create specialists who can contribute to high-quality health care and advances in science through research and training.

The required training done by a postgraduate specialist in the field of Microbiology would help the specialist recognize the community's health needs. The student should be competent to handle medical problems effectively and should be aware of the recent advances in their specialty.

The candidate should be a highly competent doctor possessing a broad range of skills that will enable her/him to practice Microbiology independently. The PG candidate should also acquire the basic skills in teaching medical/para-medical students.

The candidate is also expected to know the principles of research methodology and modes of the consulting library. The candidate should regularly attend conferences, workshops, and CMEs to upgrade her/ his knowledge.

Course Highlights

Here are some of the course highlights of MD in Microbiology: 

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for MD in Microbiology are defined as the set of rules or minimum prerequisites that aspirants must meet in order to be eligible for admission, which include:

• Candidates must be in possession of an undergraduate MBBS degree from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

• Candidates should have done a compulsory rotating internship of one year in a teaching institution or other institution which is recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

• The candidate must have obtained permanent registration of any State Medical Council to be eligible for admission.

• The medical college's recognition cut-off dates for the MBBS Degree courses and compulsory rotatory Internship shall be as prescribed by the Medical Council of India (now NMC).

Admission Process

The admission process contains a few steps to be followed in order by the candidates for admission to MD in Microbiology. Candidates can view the complete admission process for MD in Microbiology mentioned below:

The NEET PG or National Eligibility Entrance Test for Post Graduate is a national-level master's level examination conducted by the NBE for admission to MD/MS/PG Diploma Courses.

The requirement of eligibility criteria for participation in counseling towards PG seat allotment conducted by the concerned counseling authority shall be in lieu of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (as per the latest amendment) notified by the MCI (now NMC) with prior approval of MoHFW.

• The following Medical institutions are not covered under centralized admissions for MD/MS seats through NEET- PG:

1. AIIMS, New Delhi, and other AIIMS

2. PGIMER, Chandigarh

3. JIPMER, Puducherry

4. NIMHANS, Bengaluru

5. Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum

Fees Structure

The fee structure for MD in Microbiologyvaries from college to college. The fee is generally less for Government Institutes and more for private institutes. The average fee structure for MD in Microbiology is Rs. 42,000 to Rs. 12.3 Lakhs per year.

Colleges offering MD in Microbiology

Various medical colleges across India offer courses for pursuing MD (Microbiology).

As per National Medical Commission (NMC) website, the following medical colleges are offering MD (Microbiology) courses for the academic year 2022-23.

Syllabus

An MD in Microbiology is a three years specialization course that provides training in the stream of Microbiology.

Course contents:

Paper I: General Microbiology

1. History of microbiology

2. Microscopy

3. Bio-safety including universal containment, personal protective equipment for biological agents

4. Physical and biological containment

5. Isolation precautions including standard precautions and transmission based precautions

6. Sterilization, disinfection and lyophilization

7. Morphology of bacteria and other microorganisms

8. Nomenclature and classification of microorganisms

9. Normal flora of human body

10. Growth and nutrition of bacteria

11. Bacterial metabolism

12. Bacterial toxins

13. Bacteriocins

14. Microbiology of hospital environment

15. Microbiology of air, milk and water

16. Host-parasite relationship

17. Antimicrobial agents and mechanisms drug resistance

18. Bacterial genetics and bacteriophages

19. Molecular genetics relevant for medical microbiology

20. Quality assurance and quality control in microbiology

21. Accreditation of laboratories

Immunology

1. Components of immune system

2. Innate and acquired immunity

3. Cells involved in immune response

4. Antigens

5. Immunoglobulins

6. Mucosal immunity

7. Complement

8. Antigen and antibody reactions

9. Hypersensitivity

10. Cell mediated immunity

11. Cytokines

12. Immunodeficiency

13. Auto-immunity

14. Immune tolerance

15. MHC complex

16. Transplantation immunity

17. Tumor immunity

18. Vaccines and immunotherapy

19. Measurement of immunological parameters

20. Immunological techniques

21. Immunopotentiation and immunomodulation

Paper II: Systematic bacteriology

1. Isolation and identification of bacteria

2. Gram positive cocci of medical importance including Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Streptococcus, anaerobic cocci etc.

3. Gram negative cocci of medical importance including Neisseria, Branhamella, Moraxella etc.

4. Gram positive bacilli of medical importance including Lactobacillus, Coryneform organisms, Bacillus and aerobic bacilli, Actinomyces, Nocardia, Actinobacillus and other actinomycetales, Erysipelothrix, Listeria, Clostridium and other spore bearing anaerobic bacilli etc.

5. Gram negative bacilli of medical importance including Vibrios, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Haemophilus, Bordetella, Brucella, Gardnerella, Pseudomonas and other non-fermenters, Pasteurella, Francisella, Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Leptotrichia and other anaerobic gram negative bacilli etc.

6. Helicobacter, Campylobacter, Calymmatobacterium, Streptobacillus, Spirillum and miscellaneous bacteria

7. Enterobacteriaceae

8. Mycobacteria

9. Spirochaetes

10. Chlamydia

11. Mycoplasmatales; Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, Acholeplasma and other

Mycoplasmas.

12. Rickettsiae, Coxiella, Bartonella etc.

Mycology

1. General characteristics and classification of fungi

2. Morphology and reproduction of fungi

3. Isolation and identification of fungi

4. Tissue reactions to fungi

5. Yeasts and yeast like fungi of medical importance including Candida, Cryptococcus, Malassezia, Trichosporon, Geotrichum, Saccharomyces etc.

6. Mycelial fungi of medical importance including Aspergillus, Zygomycetes, Pseudallescheria, Fusarium, Piedra, other dematiaceous hyphomycetes and other hyalohyphomycetes etc.

7. Dimorphic fungi including Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Paracoccidioides, Sporothrix, Penicillium marneffei etc.

8. Dermatophytes

9. Fungi causing Mycetoma, Chromoblatomycosis, Occulomycosis and Otomycosis.

10. Pythium insidiosum

11. Prototheca

12. Pneumocystis jirovecii infection

13. Rhinosporidium seeberi and Lacazia loboi (Loboa loboi)

14. Laboratory contaminant fungi

15. Mycetism and mycotoxicosis

16. Antifungal agents and in vitro antifungal susceptibility tests.

Paper III: Virology

1. General properties of viruses

2. Classification of viruses

3. Morphology: Virus structure

4. Virus replication

5. Isolation and identification of viruses

6. Pathogenesis of viral infections

7. Genetics of viruses

8. DNA viruses of medical importance including Pox viruses, Herpes viruses, Adeno viruses, Hepadna virus, Papova and Parvo viruses etc.

9. RNA viruses of medical importance including Enteroviruses, Toga viruses, Flavi viruses, Orthomyxo viruses, Paramyxo viruses, Reo viruses, Rhabdo viruses, Arena viruses, Bunya viruses, Retro viruses, Filo viruses, Human immunodeficiency virus, Arbo viruses, Corona viruses, Calci viruses etc.

10. Slow viruses including prions

11. Unclassified viruses

12. Hepatitis viruses

13. Viriods, prions

14. Vaccines and anti-viral drugs.

Parasitology

1. General characters and classification of parasites.

2. Methods of identification of parasites

3. Protozoan parasites of medical importance including Entamoeba, Free living amoebae, Giardia, Trichomonas, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Sarcocystis, Cryptosporidium, Microsporidium, Cyclospora Isospora, Babesia, Balantidium, etc.

4. Helminthology of medical importance including those belonging to Cestoda (Diphyllobothrium, Taenia, Echinococcus, Hymenolepis, Dipyllidium, Multiceps etc.), Trematoda (Schistosomes, Fasciola, Fasciolopsis, Gastrodiscoides, Paragonimus, Clonorchis, Opisthorchis etc.) and Nematoda (etc. )

5. Entomology: common arthropods and other vectors viz. mosquito, sand fly, ticks, mite, cyclops, louse, myasis.

6. Anti-parasitic agents.

Paper IV: Applied Microbiology

1. Epidemiology of infectious diseases

2. Antimicrobial prophylaxis and therapy

3. Hospital acquired infections

4. Management of biomedical waste

5. Investigation of an infectious outbreak in hospital and community

6. Infections of various organs and systems of human body viz. respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, central nervous system infections, congenital infections, reproductive tract infections, gastrointestinal infections, hepatitis, pyrexia of unknown origin, infections of eye, ear and nose, septicaemia, endocarditis, haemorrhagic fever etc.

7. Opportunistic infections

8. Sexually transmitted diseases

9. Vaccinology: principles, methods of preparation, administration of vaccines, types of vaccines

10. Information technology (Computers) in microbiology

11. Automation in Microbiology

12. Molecular techniques in the laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases

13. Statistical analysis of microbiological data and research methodology

14. Animal and human ethics involved in microbiological work.

15. Safety in laboratory and Laboratory management

Career Options

After completing an MD in Microbiology, candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as well as in the Private sector.

In the Government sector, candidates have various options to choose from which include Registrar, Senior Resident, Demonstrator, Tutor, etc.

While in the Private sector the options include Resident Doctor, Consultant, Visiting Consultant Microbiology, Junior Consultant, Senior Consultant Microbiology, Consultant Microbiology Specialist, etc.

Courses After MD in Microbiology Course

MD in Microbiology is a specialization course that can be pursued after finishing MBBS. After pursuing a specialization in MD (Microbiology), a candidate could also pursue super specialization courses recognized by NMC, where MD (Microbiology) is a feeder qualification.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) – MD in Microbiology Course

Question: What is an MD in Microbiology?

Answer: MD Microbiology or also known as MD in Microbiology is a Postgraduate level course for doctors in India that is done by them after completion of their MBBS.

Question: What is the duration of an MD in Microbiology?

Answer: MD in Microbiology is a postgraduate programme of three years.

Question: What is the eligibility of an MD in Microbiology?

Answer: Candidates must be in possession of an undergraduate MBBS degree from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India.

Question: What is the scope of an MD in Microbiology?

Answer: MD in Microbiology offers candidates various employment opportunities and career prospects.

Question: What is the average salary for an MD in Microbiology postgraduate candidate?

Answer: The MD in Microbiology candidate's average salary is Rs. 5 lakh – Rs. 13 lakh per annum.

Question: Is MD microbiology and MSc microbiology the same?

Answer: MD in microbiology is actually related to those microorganisms which cause diseases to humans and their deep study. Whereas MSc in Medical biology is concerned, it does not require any MBBS degree and is done after BSc.