HYGIENE
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2022/2023
- Teacher
- CECILIA ACUTI MARTELLUCCI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- MED/42
Training objectives
- The course aims to provide basic knowledge of epidemiological methodology for the study of infectious and non-infectious diseases and their prevention, as well as to provide knowledge of the major issues of environmental contamination and methods of intervention.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
After completing the course, the student will be able to:
-properly know the epidemiological terminology;
-know the fundamentals of demography, health statistics and epidemiological methodology, the concept of risk, levels of prevention and related actions;
-know the main character of the interaction between pathogens and human hosts, the events related to the chain of infection, prevention measures and prophylaxis of infectious diseases, the methods of transmission of infectious diseases;
-know the risk factors associated with the chronic-degenerative diseases.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
After completing the course, the student will be able to:
-properly use the epidemiological terminology;
-correctly interpret the demographic data, health and epidemiological,
-assess the risk of disease;
-implement prevention;
-assess the events related to the chain of infection, prevention measures and prophylaxis of infectious diseases, the methods of transmission of infectious diseases;
-use criteria to prevent chronic-degenerative diseases. Prerequisites
- Although no formal propedeuticity is required, basic knowledge of chemistry, biochemistry, and biology is necessary.
Course programme
- The first part of the course, 12 hours, will be used to explain the following topics:
-General Concepts about Hygiene and Epidemiology. Health status of a population. Primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention. Health education. Elements of demography and health statistics.
-General epidemiology: epidemiological methodology, sources of epidemiological data. Main measures used in epidemiology (frequency, prevalence, incidence, crude rates and specific). Epidemiological Studies: descriptive, analytical, and experimental methodologies.
The second part of the course of 18 hours, will be devoted to the following topics:
-Epidemiology and prevention of infectious diseases. Epidemiology: etiological agents. Temporal and spatial distribution of infectious diseases (sporadic, endemic, epidemic, pandemic). Sources and reservoirs of infection. Healthy and unhealthy carriers. Ways of transmission: direct infection, vehicles, carriers. Infectious diseases transmitted by air, fecal-orally, parenterally and sexually-transmitted diseases. General prophylaxis: notification, epidemiological investigation, diagnostic direct and indirect isolation. Prophylactic measures relating to: a) the man and the community (vaccine, serumprophylaxis, immunoglobulins, and chemo-antibiotic prophylaxis) b) vehicles of infection (sterilization and disinfection by physical and chemical methods) c) carriers of infection (disinfection by mechanical means, physical, chemical).
In the third part of the course of 8 hours, the following topics will be developed:
-Epidemiology and prevention of non-infectious diseases. Epidemiology: etiology, risk factors, distribution and frequency of non-infectious diseases of social interest in Italy. Prevention: primary (strengthening defenses, behavior modification, action on the environment), secondary (massive and selective screenings), tertiary (therapy, rehabilitation and reintegration). The main non-infectious chronic diseases: cardiovascular disease, cancer.
The fourth part of the course of 10 hours, will be devoted to the study of the following features:
-Environmental hygiene and foods. Hygiene of the air: chemical and physical characteristics, urban air pollution (sources, contaminants, effects), prevention. Water for human use: physical, chemical and microbiological tests, correction of water aimed to human consumption. Urban waste water: study of the characteristics and methods of treatment and disposal. Municipal solid waste: classification, characteristics, methods of collection and disposal. Food: food-borne infections and food poisoning. Didactic methods
- The course consists of classroom lectures. In particular it is provided 48 hours of teaching overall (6 CFU). Classes are held weekly in the classroom and the exposure is calculated by means of slides on power-point and, for the better understanding of the topics, even the classic blackboard.
Learning assessment procedures
- The assessment test consists of a written exam, consisting of thirty questions, each with five answer options. Every correct answer is worth a point of evaluation, while every wrong answer or not given is worth zero points. The exam is considered passed with a minimum grade of 18/30 up to a maximum of 30/30. Distinction is granted at the discretion of the teacher, based on previous student's attendance and participation in the lessons.
Reference texts
- - Provision of teaching materials in pdf format.
- Meloni C., Pellissero G.: Igiene, ed. 2007, Casa Ed. Ambrosiana.
- Auxilia F., Pontello M. : Igiene e Sanità Pubblica, ed. 2011, Piccin.
- Marinelli P., Liguori G., Montemarano A., D’Amora M.: Igiene, Medicina Preventiva e Sanità Pubblica, Piccin Editore, 2002.
- Signorelli C.: Igiene edilizia ed ambientale, Società Editrice Universo 2° Ed.
