Epidemiology and Public Health

Recommended Prerequisites

Microbiology, Portuguese.

Teaching Methods

The lectures are based on the classical model of transmission of knowledge, supported with summarized and illustrative presentations in Power- Point. The class participation is stimulated by asking questions, in order to apply concepts previously learnt and to interconnect the topics. Also, the presentation and discussion of recent scientific papers related with the thematics teached is performed.

Learning Outcomes

The primary objective of this course is to study and analyse the health determinants of a population.

Specific objectives are:

- To sensitize the students for the population's sanitary problems

- Understanding the health conditioning factors (biological, economic and socio-political)

- To present the main emerging diseases

- To highlight the modes of transmission of infectious diseases in order to devise strategies to control or prevent the spread of the infection

- To sensitize the students to an active role in promoting health through education and changing behaviours that will determine an improved quality of live

- To stimulate students active participation in the classroom

- To stimulate critical thinking and application of knowledge

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1.Introduction to Public Health

-Concept of health and health determinants; Historical evolution of Public Health; World Health Organization

2.Public Health Concept

-Classical and current concept of Public Health; Scope of Public Health; Community Health

3.General notions of epidemiology

4.Epidemiology of transmissible diseases: cycle of infectious disease

5.Emerging infectious diseases according to WHO

6.The environment and human health

- Air pollution. Health repercussions. Reference to various fungi, mycotoxins, organic volatiles, bacterial products (endotoxins). Legionellosis. Tuberculosis as a public health problem

- Water microbiology. Relation to Public Health. Diseases by ingestion, contact and inhalation (bacteria, parasites and viruses). Cholera

7.Resistance to antimicrobial agents. Implications for Public Health.

- Resistance mechanisms and dissemination

8.Sexually transmitted diseases

Head Lecturer(s)

Sara Margarida dos Santos Domingues

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 10.0%
Frequency: 90.0%

Bibliography

• “The Microbial Challenge: Science, Disease and Public Health”, R. I. Krasner, 2nd ed., 2010, ASM Press

• “Moderna Saúde Pública”. Gonçalves Ferreira. 6ª ed. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

• “Nota e Técnicas Epidemiológicas”, Salvador Massano Cardoso, 5ª Ed., Faculdade de Medicina de Coimbra

• “Salud Pública”, F. Martínez Navarro, J.M. Antó, P. L. Castellanos, M. Gili, P. Marset, V. Navarro, 1999, McGraw-Hill-Interamericana

• “Microbiology: a human perspective”, Nester, Anderson, Roberts and Nester, 5th ed, 2007, McGraw-Hill

• “Manual of Environmental Microbiology”. C. J. Hurst et al., 2nd ed., 2002. ASM Press

• “Microbiology. A systems approach”. M. K. Cowan and K. P. Talaro, 11st ed., 2006, McGraw-Hill

• “Medical Microbiology. An Introdution to Infectious Diseases”. Sherris. K. J. Ryan and C. G. Ray. 4th ed. 2003. MacGrawHill