Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:1.00

Study Course Accepted:03.04.2023 16:07:43

Study Course Information
Course Code:		SVUEK_140		LQF level:		Level 6
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Clinical Medicine; Public Health		Target Audience:		Public Health
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Anda Ķīvīte-Urtāne
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 9 Kronvalda boulevard, svekrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67338307
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		8	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		16
Classes (count)		8	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		16
Total Contact Hours								32
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Basic knowledge in epidemiology and infectious diseases.
Objective:
Acquire specific epidemiology (including field epidemiology) issues related to infectious diseases.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Epidemiological measures in the area of infectious diseases – descriptive statistics; seroepidemiology			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
2	Epidemiological measures and study design in infectious diseases epidemiology			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
3	Epidemiological measures and study design in infectious diseases epidemiology, part 2			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
4	Surveillance of infectious diseases, elimination programs			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
5	Most important and emerging infections			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
6	Outbreak investigation			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	Vaccine research – trials, vaccination epidemiology, herd immunity			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
8	Mathematical modeling, modeling of epidemics			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Homework on specific topics of lectures and classes. Independent work with the specified mandatory literature.
Assessment Criteria:
Class attendance, homework success and final exam. In order to pass the course, 100% attendance is required. If 1-4 lessons are missed, one additional question is added to the final exam for each topic missed. If 5 or more lessons are missed, i.e. more than 50%, the study course is not counted. Successful crediting of the course requires a successful assessment (at least 4 points) in all homework and the final exam. Homework constitutes 50% of the final grade (average grade of all homework), final exam - 50% of the final grade.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		After completing the course, the student: * will name the basic epidemiological indicators of infections, will know their calculation formulas, * will define pandemic, epidemic, outbreak, endemic, * will describe the importance of different study designs and association indicators in infection research and surveillance, * will know the components of infection control, * will know the components of infection control programs, * will describe the role of seroepidemiology in infection surveillance and research, * will describe cases of good practice in infection control, * will describe the progress and nature of vaccine effectiveness studies, * will explain the concept of collective immunity, * will know the goals and steps of outbreak investigation, * will describe the most important emergency infections, * will describe the role of modeling in infection surveillance.
Skills:		After completing the course, the student: * will be able to determine the adequacy of specific infection control measures and programs, * will be able to solve the tasks of epidemiological indicators of different types of infections, * will learn to inform, educate and motivate the public about infection prevention measures, * will know how to engage in outbreak investigation steps.
Competencies:		After completing the course, the student: * will develop a set of specific infection control measures, * will be able to independently calculate epidemiological indicators in the field of infectious diseases, * will be able to develop an outbreak investigation plan, * will argue about the need for vaccination, coverage and herd immunity.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Giesecke J. Modern infectious disease epidemiology. 3rd edition. CRC Press, 2017.
Additional Reading
1	Nelson K.E., Williams C. Infectious Disease Epidemiology: Theory and Practice 3rd edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2013
2	Abubakar I., Stagg H.R., Cohen T., Rodrigues L.C. Infectious Disease Epidemiology. Oxford University Press, 2016.