The course aims to provide knowledge about: the factors influencing the transition from healthy conditions to disease; the application of traditional and molecular epidemiology for disease study and prevention; the pathogenetic mechanisms of communicable diseases and diagnostic techniques. The course also aims to give knowledge about development and use of vaccines for infectious diseases control and prevention.

1-Introduction to Hygiene and general aspects

2-Main factors of disease

Risk factors and causal effects.

3- Epidemiology methods

Descriptive, analytic and experimental epidemiology. Bias.

4- Molecular epidemiology of communicable and non-communicable diseases

Biomarkers in Preventive and Predictive Medicine

5- Elements of statistics in epidemiology

Evaluation of experimental data

6- Methodology of prevention

Aims and methods of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.

Prevention strategies (individual protection, control, elimination and eradication of diseases)

7- Laboratory diagnosis

Molecular techniques for diagnosis of infectious diseases and microbial identification

8- Body response to infections

Aspecific and immune response. Antigens, antibodies and immune cells involved in immune response.

9- Vaccines and active immunoprophylaxis

Traditional and biotechnological vaccines. Reverse vaccinology. Vaccine costituents. Adjuvants. Development of new vaccines. Vaccine schedules. Mandatory and recommended vaccines.

10- Passive immunoprophylaxis and chemioprophylaxis

11- Epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of some main infectious diseases

12- Epidemiology of infections caused by antibiotic resistant microorganisms

13- Epidemiology and prevention of Non communicable diseases. Screening.

None.

Following successful completion of the course the student will have acquired the following:

D1 - Knowledge and understanding. Through attendance to lessons and seminars, and studying material indicated by the teacher, the student will be able to achive knowledge concerning: the general principles of hygiene; etiology and risk factors of infectious and chronic diseases; epidemiologic methods; diagnostic methods and prevention strategies for main communicable and non communicable diseases.

D2 - Applying knowledge and understanding. The student will demonstrate the ability to: analyze and distinguish features of the most important diseases; recognize levels and methods of prevention; provide examples of epidemiological and experimental studies; identify proper diagnostic approaches.

D3 - Making judgements. The student will demonstrate to be able to provide critical and detailed evaluations about health issues related to well-being and disease prevention. Such capabilities will be achieved during lessons by discussion with the teacher and other students, and during the exam.

D4 - Communication skills. The student will demonstrate to have acquired communication skills by participating and discussing during lessons. He/she will demonstrate the capacity of using a language porper for the disciplines of the biomedical area. The student will be also encouraged to use informatic tools for communication

D5 - Learning skills. At the end of the course the student will have gained a good degree of autonomy in the study of the didactic materials the course, both those provided by the teacher and independently obtained, demonstrating the ability to search for useful information to deepen the knowledge of the topics discussed.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

None.

Teaching

Lectures.

Innovative teaching methods

Learning by doing.

Attendance

None. 

Course books

Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases. Principles and Practices. Lee W.Riley. ASM Press Washington, D.C.

Molecular Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases. Editors: Wild C, Vineis P, Garte S. Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ricciardi W, Boccia S. Igiene, medicina preventiva, sanità pubblica. Idelson-Gnocchi.

Signorelli C. Igiene - Epidemiologia - Sanità Pubblica "SECRETS". Casa Editrice SEU.

C. Meloni, G. Pelissero. Igiene. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. Milano.

S. Barbuti, G.M. Fara, G. Giammanco. Igiene. Medicina preventiva. Sanità pubblica. EdiSES - Napoli.

Other textbooks are allowed if updated and including program topics.

More information will be given at the beginning of the course.

Assessment

The final assessment consists of an oral exam. Overall, the exam aims to verify the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and comprehension of the topics, as well as communication skills.

Examination will take place through an oral interview consisting of at least three questions on topics covered by the program in order to verify the knowledge acquired by the student as well as the ability to correlate and expose in a scientific language the various themes.

Property of language, clarity of exposition, acquired knowledge and ability to make connections between the different topics will be evaluated during the oral examination.

The evaluation will be expressed in thirtieths (minimum mark 18/30, maximum mark 30/30 cum laude).

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Non-attending students are invited to refer to teaching material that can be found in the Moodle platform, useful to integrate suggested textbooks.

Attendance

None.

Course books

Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases. Principles and Practices. Lee W.Riley. ASM Press Washington, D.C.

Molecular Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases. Editors: Wild C, Vineis P, Garte S. Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Signorelli C. Igiene - Epidemiologia - Sanità Pubblica "SECRETS". Casa Editrice SEU.

C. Meloni, G. Pelissero. Igiene. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. Milano.

S. Barbuti, G.M. Fara, G. Giammanco. Igiene. Medicina preventiva. Sanità pubblica. EdiSES - Napoli.

Other textbooks are allowed if updated and including program topics.

More information will be given at the beginning of the course.

Assessment

The final assessment consists of an oral exam. Overall, the exam aims to verify the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and comprehension of the topics, as well as communication skills.

Examination will take place through an oral interview consisting of at least three questions on topics covered by the program in order to verify the knowledge acquired by the student as well as the ability to correlate and expose in a scientific language the various themes.

Property of language, clarity of exposition, acquired knowledge and ability to make connections between the different topics will be evaluated during the oral examination.

The evaluation will be expressed in thirtieths (minimum mark 18/30, maximum mark 30/30 cum laude).

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.