Just started microbiology portion of our curriculum (along with pathology, pharm, and immuno) and was wondering what resources you used. I just ordered Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple, but I was wondering if anyone has recommendations on the Lippincott's Microcards or other resources!
Posted Feb 13, 2015, 3:01 AM UTC
Search for a web site called Microbe invaders. Is like a game of Pokémon while learning
This is awesome! I have no idea what I'm doing yet, but can't wait to try it out in a few months.
The best thing for me has been Anki. I'll watch a lecture or read a powerpoint and then go straight back through it making cards (using Cloze deletions) on what I think is important. Then just pound it in each day until the computer tells you to stop.
That's a good suggestion. I've been on the lookout for good Anki decks (I know I should make my own, but I rarely keep using mine so I don't want to devote the time), hopefully a second year will come through with a well organized deck.
I would offer mine but I only have them divided by exam block. I didn't get too into the tagging system until this last exam which is virology.
Thanks for the offer though!
Lippincott's Microcards are a must have. Lange Medical Microbiology and Immunology for a detailed micro book and an alright immuno source. Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple is also great and has weird pictures and mnemonics that will stick with you throughout med school. If you want a okay overview of just immunology, use Immunology for Medical Students by Roderick Nairn, I used it a couple of times, but I didn't think it was absolutely necessary.
I don't really know why, but my professor basically told us that micro made simple had errors in it.
Also, some of the shit on my Microcards directly conflicts what they give us on their PDF handouts. Like it's confusing as fuck
Here is an errata for MMRS http://www.medmaster.net/erratummicrobiol.html
haha we just started, but that's the way I'm feeling in micro right now. Confused as fuck
Thanks for the recommendations, what about the microcards are so great if you don't mind me asking? And I've been using Basic Immunology - Functions and Disorders of the Immune System which so far seems like a manageable read.
The Microcards just have everything you need to know in an easy to use format. They also present the information in a really great way with clinical examples. If I was super strapped for cash I would just buy the microcards and use first aid. But saying that, everyone studies differently, and I just really enjoy using notecard like material when I am studying.
PICMONIC is actually really useful.
I study the cards once and can retain 80-90% of the facts weeks later. It's not a complete resource but it will save you from some of the ridiculously tedious facts to memorize about microbes.
SketchyMicro. Our whole class used it for bacteria and as a whole we score the highest mean in years. Viruses coming out in a month will be a gamechanger.
I used exclusively sketchymicro for my last block exam that had over 50 bugs on it, and absolutely crushed it. It's the best resource I've come across so far. I tried picmonic but sketchy does it so much better.
It's too bad they're releasing viruses right after we finish them.
Clinical Micro made ridiculously simple was an amazing book.Definitely that + first aid is all you need to crush the micro section of step 1 and your micro block
Just took Step 1 today, and www.sketchymicro.com is all you need for bacteria. Presents things in ways that you will never forget. Seriously.
Just an FYI for everyone: They said on their facebook they will be adding viruses within the month!
https://www.facebook.com/SketchyMicro
Oh dang I'm jelly.
This was seriously the best news I've heard all week. I love the sketchy series.
Can second sketchymicro! I ONLY used it for our micro exam and aced it. That was last semester and I still remember the bugs, what they grow on, and how they're treated.