Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the scientific and cultural tools to learn about: 1. the principles and methodologies of epidemiology and prevention of infections of relevance to public health with particular regard to emerging ones; 2. the current impact of infectious diseases worldwide.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student must: 1. have acquired the basic knowledge on the most widespread emerging infectious diseases or those of particular epidemiological and / or health relevance; 2. Know the main emergency factors and the most suitable prevention methods in relation to the transmission methods.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
1. Introduction to the 21st Century Infectious Diseases. Emerging / re-emerging infections: factors driving the emergence
2. Microorganisms: pathogenicity, virulence, mode of transmission
3. Host defences: general mechanisms of natural and adaptive immunity. The humoral and cell-mediated response, the major histocompatibility complex
4. Microbiological diagnosis, culture isolation methods, serological and molecular biology techniques. The polymerase chain reaction, genotypic and phenotypic characterization and microbial genomics
5. The dynamics of infectious diseases: main epidemiological parameters, compartmental models
6. Molecular evolution of viruses. Phylogenetics and phylodynamics of the viral infections.
7. Filoviruses; Ebola virus, epidemiology and prevention
8. The emerging zoonoses
9. Vector-borne infections: the arboviruses. West Nile virus and neurotropic arboviruses
10. Emerging / re-emerging arbovirosis: Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika virus
11. Sexually transmitted diseases: HIV infection and AIDS
12. Non-HIV sexually transmitted infections
13. Respiratory transmitted infections. Influenza viruses
14. The viral hepatitis: epidemiology and prevention
15. The new coronavirus: SARS-CoV-2 and Covid-19 pandemic
16. Food-borne diseases: listeriosis and non-typhoidal salmonellosis, HAV and HEV hepatites
17. Antibiotic resistance: the hidden pandemic
2. Microorganisms: pathogenicity, virulence, mode of transmission
3. Host defences: general mechanisms of natural and adaptive immunity. The humoral and cell-mediated response, the major histocompatibility complex
4. Microbiological diagnosis, culture isolation methods, serological and molecular biology techniques. The polymerase chain reaction, genotypic and phenotypic characterization and microbial genomics
5. The dynamics of infectious diseases: main epidemiological parameters, compartmental models
6. Molecular evolution of viruses. Phylogenetics and phylodynamics of the viral infections.
7. Filoviruses; Ebola virus, epidemiology and prevention
8. The emerging zoonoses
9. Vector-borne infections: the arboviruses. West Nile virus and neurotropic arboviruses
10. Emerging / re-emerging arbovirosis: Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika virus
11. Sexually transmitted diseases: HIV infection and AIDS
12. Non-HIV sexually transmitted infections
13. Respiratory transmitted infections. Influenza viruses
14. The viral hepatitis: epidemiology and prevention
15. The new coronavirus: SARS-CoV-2 and Covid-19 pandemic
16. Food-borne diseases: listeriosis and non-typhoidal salmonellosis, HAV and HEV hepatites
17. Antibiotic resistance: the hidden pandemic
Prerequisites for admission
Preliminary knowledge in biological subjects and general notions of epidemiology and prevention of communicable diseases.
Teaching methods
Lectures through the use of slide presentations (eg power point), made available to the students on the Ariel platform
Teaching Resources
Slides provided by the teacher (available on Ariel platform).
To deepen:
Robert I Krasner, Teri Shors, The microbial challenge: a public health perspective. Jones & Bartlett learning. Fourth Edition
Bibliographic/Additional material provided by the teacher
To deepen:
Robert I Krasner, Teri Shors, The microbial challenge: a public health perspective. Jones & Bartlett learning. Fourth Edition
Bibliographic/Additional material provided by the teacher
Assessment methods and Criteria
Final written test, with 30 multiple-choice questions, only one of which is correct. The evaluation (in 30th) will be based on the correct answers. A mid-term written test (30 multiple-choice questions) is scheduled halfway through the course, covering the first part of the course, evaluated in 30th, which will be averaged with the final test.
The oral exam will be administered to students who received an insufficient grade in one or both of the tests or who request it and it will focus on a critical discussion of the written test contents. The final evaluation will be communicated through the publication of the grades on the Ariel platform and/or through the secretary's office of the course and the recording system.
The oral exam will be administered to students who received an insufficient grade in one or both of the tests or who request it and it will focus on a critical discussion of the written test contents. The final evaluation will be communicated through the publication of the grades on the Ariel platform and/or through the secretary's office of the course and the recording system.
MED/07 - MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY - University credits: 3
MED/42 - HYGIENE AND PUBLIC HEALTH - University credits: 3
MED/42 - HYGIENE AND PUBLIC HEALTH - University credits: 3
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Bianchi Silvia, Zehender Gianguglielmo
Professor(s)