PROPHYLAXIS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
cod. 1004853

Academic year 2024/25
1° year of course - Second semester
Professor
Roberta ZONI
Academic discipline
Igiene generale e applicata (MED/42)
Field
Scienze interdisciplinari cliniche
Type of training activity
Characterising
14 hours
of face-to-face activities
2 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN

Integrated course unit module: BASICS OF PREVENTION

Learning objectives

The course aims is to make the student understand, regarding to the various infectious and contagious diseases, what are the conditions, factors and situations which are associated with the risk of their spread and to acquire and apply preventive strategies to be adopted for their control.

The student will gain the ability to identify, within the different types of transmission of infectious disease and specifically for each pathology treated, the "critical points" of diffusion, any categories of persons which are most exposed in relation to the professional activity, the implications associated with the propagation of infectious pathogens and the types of preventive action to be implemented.

Prerequisites

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Course unit content

In the first part of the course, after a brief discussion of the fundamental principles of microbiology, the main characteristics of infectious and diffusive pathologies to which a significant occupational or environmental exposure risk is associated will be dealt with in a general way; in particular, the aspects related to fecal-oral, parenteral, airborne and trauma-related transmission will be studied.
A more specific study of some pathologies will then follow, highlighting the exposure associated with professional activities and illustrating the fundamental epidemiological aspects and the prevention strategies that can be adopted to control their spread.
In order to train health professionals with respect to vaccinology, an in-depth study of immune and pharmacological prevention strategies aimed at controlling infectious diseases at occupational risk will be carried out.
Finally, the course will conclude with the discussion of biological risk in the workplace

Full programme

Transmission routes in the professional and environmental impact of major infectious diseases: oral-fecal, parenteral, air and trauma related transmission.
• Diseases transmitted by fecal-oral route: Hepatitis A
• Diseases transmitted by parenteral route: HBV, HCV.
• Airborne diseases: influenza, coronavirus infection
• Diseases transmitted in association with trauma: tetanus
• Active and passive immunoprophylaxis: typologies of vaccines and serums, vaccine strategies for vaccination in childhood, adulthood (in relation to occupational exposures) and the elderly.
• Pharmacological prophylaxis
Biohazard: general principles.

Bibliography

Barbuti, Fara, Giammanco - Igiene Medicina Preventiva Sanità Pubblica
EdiSES università II edizione

educational material provided by the teacher: lessons slides

Teaching methods

The lessons will take place with frontal mode, in presence; the explanations of the teacher will be supported by the projection of slides suitably prepared that will also be provided to students as teaching material of study, deposited on the specific platform for access reserved for students (Elly).
During the course of the lessons students will be directly involved with questions, requests for examples, analysis of situations or problems to verify the degree of understanding of the concepts illustrated.

Assessment methods and criteria

The exam will be oral: to verify the level of learning reached, the student will be required to be able to revise the basic notions acquired contextualizing them in particular situations or examples.
During the test the student must demonstrate that he has acquired and understood the contents of the course and to be able to identify preventive interventions related to the diseases debated, especially in the workplace but also in the general population.
Particular importance is attached to the acquisition of the principles related to the assessment of the biological risk and the implementable tools for its control.

Students with DSA/BSE must contact the Reception and Inclusion Centre (CAI) of the University in advance.

Other information

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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development

Health and wellness