{"id":524,"date":"2023-09-16T22:09:06","date_gmt":"2023-09-16T21:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/?p=524"},"modified":"2023-09-16T22:09:06","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T21:09:06","slug":"how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/?p=524","title":{"rendered":"How did I prepare for part 2 FRCPath?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>One of our registrars passed part 2 recently. I asked him about his preparation. He kindly shared with me some useful tips which may help anyone preparing for part 2.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.ff20znxxk46r_l\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.ff20znxxk46r\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.ff20znxxk46r\"><\/a>What did you read?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What I read was a mix of<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mandell<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SMI<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PHE documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kucer\u2019s (skimmed with notes)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>various test-type instruction booklets (i.e., E-test)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Andrej Spec\u2019s \u201cComprehensive Review of Infectious Diseases\u201d was helpful as a broad cover for parasites and fungi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ECMM micro-guidelines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>EUCAST fine print on testing tables, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Here are the links to the resources mentioned<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F3NepxCz&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw1dhI4cjjnYMqb6RWJKHXrI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett\u2019s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fcollections%2Fstandards-for-microbiology-investigations-smi&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw1anspj20W1reKGq7nSG7yM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SMI<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Ftopic%2Fhealth-protection%2Finfectious-diseases&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw1EojiplcXyRUdE3Itdi_hE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PHE documents<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F3tt8Viv&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw2UsMeNh04sFKFck1xqmLJA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kucers\u2019 The Use of Antibiotics<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F3IurzKX&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw17gJjxAxKD5TLGGR7ZbCoz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Comprehensive Review of Infectious Diseases<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecmm.info%2Fguidelines%2F&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw0zcB76qmNyZ_Feg1T4Pr7U\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ECMM micro guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eucast.org%2F&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw1sCAD7B0x5_o2GpLFjIzqE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EUCAST<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.fl3zmc9zrn2_l\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.fl3zmc9zrn2\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.fl3zmc9zrn2\"><\/a>Where did you find questions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No place has adequate questions. However, if you save up the questions from the NEQAS monthly question bank, they cover many topics. Some of the topics do come up in the exam (as I imagine the exam writers are either writing the same questions for NEQAS or are influenced by themselves doing the questions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Link to the NEQAS interpretative comment. This is a membership-based service.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ukneqasmicro.org.uk\/interpretive-comments-information\/\">https:\/\/ukneqasmicro.org.uk\/interpretive-comments-information\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.3xqz64fsvydn_l\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.3xqz64fsvydn\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.3xqz64fsvydn\"><\/a>Is there any other materials that we can read?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from the usual topics of clinical microbiology and infection prevention and control, reference laboratory type investigations are not off-limits\u2014be aware at least of the Cardiff Toxo unit and dye test\/PCR\/ISAGA Ig method, and the various specialist labs such as Porton, HTLV goes to London I think. Having an awareness of what is done in local labs and what is done in ref labs may also help, but it would not be critical to answering a question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Here are the links to various reference laboratory user manuals\/information.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fphw.nhs.wales%2Fservices-and-teams%2Freference-laboratories-and-specialist-services%2Ftoxoplasma-reference-unit%2F&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw331lVx8dtAOc57sAEfxAw1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cardiff Toxoplasma reference unit<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/specialist-and-reference-microbiology-laboratory-tests-and-services\">https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/specialist-and-reference-microbiology-laboratory-tests-and-services<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/bacteriology-reference-department-brd-user-manual\">https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/bacteriology-reference-department-brd-user-manual<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/virus-reference-department-vrd-user-manual\">https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/virus-reference-department-vrd-user-manual<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lshtm.ac.uk\/research\/faculties\/itd\/teaching-and-diagnostic-unit\/diagnostic-parasitology-laboratory\">https:\/\/www.lshtm.ac.uk\/research\/faculties\/itd\/teaching-and-diagnostic-unit\/diagnostic-parasitology-laboratory<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbt.nhs.uk\/severn-pathology\/pathology-services\/antimicrobial-reference-laboratory\/antimicrobial-reference-laboratory-resources\">https:\/\/www.nbt.nhs.uk\/severn-pathology\/pathology-services\/antimicrobial-reference-laboratory\/antimicrobial-reference-laboratory-resources<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.nbje0hug9568_l\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.nbje0hug9568\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.nbje0hug9568\"><\/a>Time is important..<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The main thing is time \u2013 there was so much for me to digest. When looking things up in reference-type books, they are unlikely to ask about specific non-landmark studies \u2013 so can skim past some sections, e.g., Kucers, where they try and show the ambiguity from various trials about an antibiotic (even if the book is interesting \u2013 time and energy are precious!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.u2yg5k3typc3_l\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.u2yg5k3typc3\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.u2yg5k3typc3\"><\/a>How did you revise it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Reinforcement \u2013 I used a spreadsheet, which I then transformed into an Anki deck (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fapps.ankiweb.net%2F&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Lx61eZifl-BIKIzOaZy-c\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Anki \u2013 powerful, intelligent flashcards (ankiweb.net<\/strong><\/a>)). This meant that I could quiz myself using spaced repetition of weaknesses to try and remember all the facts I thought that I needed. Making the spreadsheet was a learning process in itself, so whilst I can share what I made \u2013 half the benefit is not there, since I have made them in a way that helps me to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Succinct notes: since some topics draw from many sources (i.e., there are many GAS guidelines in the UK depending on setting and publishing organisation), we need to draw them together and make them easy to read in 2-3 weeks down the line, when the freshness of reading the source document has gone. There is a fine line to be drawn between noting too little or too much. Some documents then branch out into other guidelines \u2013 such as the rash in pregnancy document, which then goes into specific infections. Having some way of managing that so that it makes sense is important. It\u2019s otherwise easy to waste time re-reading the initial document on each learning of a single branch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.yrj8x8d915ef_l\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.yrj8x8d915ef\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.yrj8x8d915ef\"><\/a>Non-clinical subjects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also a lot of non-clinical aspects. Awareness of how the NHS works, how medical units\/ED work, may help dilemmas where someone has gone home and has a positive blood culture s(i.e. who is responsible for the result, what routes for review are available). Additionally, being able to manage complaints and investigate incidents in an NHS\/UK lab setting is important. \u2013 this may be different around the world even if accreditation is to an ISO standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowledge of quality improvement is also important; \u2013 worth skimming but not necessarily reading in full: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.england.nhs.uk%2Fimprovement-hub%2Fpublication%2Fservice-improvement-in-microbiology-why-what-and-how%2F&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw1hC2M42TApIZFXluumxGnR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Improvement Hub \u00bb Service Improvement in Microbiology: Why, What and How (england.nhs.uk)<\/a>, Being able to look at a run chart\/process control chart has been assessed before also-<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.england.nhs.uk%2Fimprovement-hub%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F44%2F2017%2F11%2FA-guide-to-creating-and-interpreting-run-and-control-charts.pdf&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw3wxSKoz8WXdjSaudYHjtBk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A-guide-to-creating-and-interpreting-run-and-control-charts.pdf (england.nhs.uk)<\/a>. Questions have also been asked on calculating sens\/spec\/NPV\/PPV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.31u6keis6i80_l\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.31u6keis6i80\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.31u6keis6i80\"><\/a>Antibiotic monitoring<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>BNF alone is not the only resource for antibiotic monitoring\/levels \u2013 check Antimicrobial Reference Laboratory Resources | North Bristol NHS Trust (nbt.nhs.uk) instead. Leeds also has an excellent (but far too wordy) antibiotic guideline website that explains some concepts and starting points for further reading: \u2013 <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fnww.lhp.leedsth.nhs.uk%2Fantimicrobials%2Findex.aspx&amp;sa=D&amp;sntz=1&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Y2HPq6mvSYnwUYFsmVqE8\" target=\"_blank\">Leeds Infection Resource Page (leedsth.nhs.uk)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.uh59xx7i43oi_l\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.uh59xx7i43oi\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microregistrar.app\/frcpath-help\/how-did-i-prepare-for-part-2-frcpath#h.uh59xx7i43oi\"><\/a>Hope that helps.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of our registrars passed part 2 recently. I asked him about his preparation. He kindly shared with me some [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[54],"class_list":["post-524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-frcpath-tips","tag-part-2-frcpath"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=524"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":525,"href":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/524\/revisions\/525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/microregistrar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}