Syllabus
Globalization issues are fully reflected in the health sector, particularly in the area of infectious diseases, when infectious diseases are imported into Europe from the sub-tropics and tropics. Most of our doctors lack practical knowledge of the clinical manifestations of highly dangerous infections (HDIs) and how to implement effective anti-epidemic measures. Young doctors in particular have difficulties with the diagnosis of these illnesses and especially with a knowledge of the epidemiological methods, both preventative and repressive, that must be implemented rapidly when outbreaks of highly dangerous infections occur.
In this e-Course, the clinical characteristics of each illness are discussed, along with diagnostic criteria (including current laboratory criteria), sources, possible reservoirs of infection, ways of transmission, risk of introduction, and algorithms of epidemiological measures for selected examples of highly virulent diseases of global importance. Knowledge of international healthcare regulations and alert systems for serious infections is also emphasized. The aim is to provide in a comprehensible way an overview of the current and factually accurate theoretical knowledge needed for correct and rapid decision-making at work on the front-line of contact with highly dangerous infections.
The course is divided into two parts. The first provides the necessary theoretical knowledge of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics, and is completed by the first self-test. The study material is supplemented by links to sources for further information. The second part is more practically oriented and assesses the risk of introduction and spread of infection in our country, indicates the possibility of repressive epidemiological measures and the correct procedural algorithms to follow in the event of an HDI being introduced. It is completed by multimedia teaching, simulation through model situations that illustrate the issues under discussion, case studies, and again is interspersed with self-tests.
The knowledge you acquire is examined in the final test, which consists of 15 multiple-choice questions. Completion of the course is based on a final self-test with a pass mark of at least 80%. This is the mark required for a credit.
The course is supported by the Handbook of control of Infections – David. Heymann, Control of communicable diseases manual, 20th edition, 2015 and by book- W. Michael Scheld, Emerging infections 2001
Organisers: Department of Epidemiology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University
Authors: Assoc. prof. Dana Göpfertová, PhD., MUDr. Jozef Dlhý, PhD., MZČR