Epidemiology and Public Health

Year
3
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
01551301
Subject Area
HEALTH SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
3.0
Type
Compulsory
Level
1st Cycle Studies

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 on the epidemiology of various pathogenic microorganisms is performed.

Learning Outcomes

The primary objective of this course is to study and analyse the health determinants of a population in order to devise strategies and implement programs that can promote community health and prevent disease through actions at the level of preventive medicine, health education, control of transmissible diseases, application of sanitary measures and monitoring of environmental issues.
Specific objectives are:
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
Stimulate critical thinking and application of knowledge.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Introduction to Public Health

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

Public Health Concept

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

General notions of epidemiology

Epidemiology of transmissible diseases: cycle of infectious disease

Emerging infectious diseases according to WHO

The environment and human health

- Air pollution: chemical and biological hazards. 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 for ingestion, by contact and inhalation (bacteria, parasites and viruses)

  Reference to cholera and campylobacteriosis

  Microbiological Water Quality

Resistance to antimicrobial agents. Implications for Public Health.

Sexually transmitted diseases.

Head Lecturer(s)

Victoria Bell

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

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.