Learning objectives
The integrated course aims to allow students to know and understand basic concepts and updated scientific knowledge concerning the taxonomic, morphological, physiological, genetic, pathogenetic, epidemiological, immunological, pharmacological characteristics of microorganisms and viruses, as etiologic agents of infectious diseases in humans. It also aims to provide the ability to evaluate, interpret and manage microbiological and virological approaches for the diagnosis, therapy and prophylaxis of oral infections and control of care-related infections in dentistry. Furthermore, it also aims to provide students with knowledge of epidemiological methods for the analysis of health phenomena and health needs for the planning and evaluation of public health interventions, tools for reading and interpreting scientific articles, as well as allowing them to use in occupational contexts acquired knowledge and understanding.
Prerequisites
None
Course unit content
The integrated course includes the treatment of aspects related to: general characteristics, genetics, metabolism and cultivation of microorganisms and viruses, host-parasite relationships in infection and infectious disease (pathogenicity and virulence), general characteristics of the main infectious diseases, antimicrobial and antiviral drugs and related mechanisms of resistance, immunity in infection and infectious disease.
Particularly in-depth will be the topics related to Oral Microbiology, including oral microbiota, plaque, caries, periodontal diseases and their control. The criteria of the direct and indirect microbiological diagnosis, the microbiological and virological microscopic, cultural and serological tests, the search for components of pathogens (antigens, nucleic acids) and the in vitro susceptibility testing of microorganisms to the anti-infective agents will also be treated. Finally, the objectives of epidemiology and epidemiological methods will be discussed for the analysis of health phenomena and health needs, for the planning and evaluation of public health interventions.
Full programme
Microbiology. Evolution of microorganisms and microbiology. Bacteria: cell structure, classification, reproduction, sporogenesis and germination, metabolism, cultivation, genetics, mechanisms of pathogenicity. Human pathogenic human fungi: yeasts and moulds. Human pathogenic parasites: protozoa and metazoa. Viruses: chemical composition and structure, classification, replication, interference, cultivation and quantitation, mechanisms of pathogenicity. General outlines on infectious diseases: endogenous and exogenous infections. Innate and adaptative immunity against infections. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antiviral drugs. Sensitivity testing and mechanisms of resistance to anti-infective drugs. The mouth as a microbial habitat. The resident oral microbiota. Acquisition, adhesion, distribution and metabolism of the oral microbiota. Dental plaque. Dental caries. Periodontal diseases. Oral bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Therapy and prophylaxis of oral infections. Care-related infections in dentistry. Microbiological principles for disinfection and sterilization.
Principles of Microbiological Diagnosis. Criteria for the direct and indirect microbiological diagnosis. Principles and methods of microbiological and virological microscopical, cultural and serological examination. Principles and methods for the execution of drug susceptibility testing. Antibiogram.
Hygiene. Definition, scope and uses of epidemiology. The role of epidemiology in planning and evaluating public health interventions. The sources of the statistical-epidemiological data. Descriptive epidemiological measures. Epidemiological measures of risk. Ecological studies, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, cohort studies, experimental studies. Epidemiological study design. Bias in Epidemiology.
Bibliography
N. Carlone, R. Pompei, V. Tullio. Microbiologia Farmaceutica. (3^ ed.), EdiSES Università editore, Napoli, 2020
M. La Placa. Principi di Microbiologia Medica (XIV ed.), Esculapio EdiSES editore, Napoli, 2014
Marsh & Martin’s. Oral Microbiology. 6th Ed. Elsevier, 2016
Conte M.P., Berlutti F. Microbiologia del cavo orale. Società Editrice Esculapio, Bologna, 2020
Signorelli C. e coll. Igiene, sanità pubblica. Roma: Società Editrice Universo, 2019.
Barbuti S. e coll. Igiene. Bologna: Monduzzi, 2011.
Montagna M, Castiglia P, Liguori G, Quarto M. Igiene in Odontoiatria. Monduzzi Editore, 2004.
Teaching methods
The topics concerning the contents of the course will be presented and discussed through lectures held in telepresence, with the support of the Teams platform. In particular, lessons will be held in synchronous mode. During these lessons (live), the main concepts of each topic will be exposed, emphasizing the links between the various parts of the course and alternating mainly frontal moments with interactive moments with the students. Lectures will be supported by slide presentations (PowerPoint), which will be made available to students (also on the Elly platform).
Assessment methods and criteria
The assessment of the achievement of the objectives set by the course will be carried out by means of an oral exam. No interim evaluation is programmed. Questions on the topics relating to the course content will be used to ascertain the student’s knowledge and understanding of the scientific discipline and whether is able to use appropriately the technical-scientific language and to apply the knowledge acquired in the exercise of the profession. Failure to answer to one question, or proven inability to demonstrate at least a basic knowledge on the subject, will prevent the successful completion of the exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, the attribution of the grade, expressed in thirtieths, will be based on the degree of achievement of the objectives (excellent, good, fair, fully sufficient, sufficient) and the average of the marks awarded in the different modules (Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology - 6 CFUs, Principles of microbiological diagnosis - 2 CFUs, General and applied hygiene - 2 CFUs) of the integrated course of Microbiology and Hygiene. Honors will be awarded to students who have demonstrated particular communication and autonomous learning skills. The result of the exam is communicated immediately to the student, and, after its acceptance, is then published on the ESSE3 portal (https://unipr.esse3.cineca.it/Home.do). In case of the persistence of the COVID health emergency, the exams will be conducted remotely, through the Teams platform (guide http://selma.unipr.it/). Students with SLD/BSE must first contact LE Eli-che: support for students with disabilities, D.S.A., B.E.S. (https://sea.unipr.it/it/servizi/le-eli-che-supporto-studenti-con-disabilita-dsa-bes).
Other information
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