EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES - 2021/2

Module Overview

Microbes can be categorised and studied according to a number of characteristics such as their physiology; pathogenicity, and cellular interaction with hosts. This module builds on those themes already covered on the bioscience programmes in dealing with the spread of microbes through populations, and features of host and vector populations that influence this spread.

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

COTTELL Alison (Biosc & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

BMS2037 (CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY) and / or BMS3079 (HUMAN MICROBIAL DISEASES)

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Introduction to epidemiology
• Epidemics and disease patterns
• Mathematical modelling of epidemics
• Analytical studies: Cohort and case control studies
• Bias and confounding factors
• Analysis of epidemiological data
• Emerging bacterial infectious disease
• Introduction to antimicrobials
• Antibiotic, antifungal, and antiprotozoal drugs

• An introduction to biodiversity, plant and animal epidemics and antimicrobial drug discovery

• Vaccine evaluation; design of trials, analysis of data
• Review of types of vaccines; new vaccine concepts
• Protein synthesis inhibitor antibiotics
• Spread of viruses and epidemiological aspects
• New and emerging viral infections
• Emergence of new influenza strains: epidemic vs pandemic
• Antiviral chemotherapy, HIV and HCV
• Antiviral chemotherapy, Influenza and other viruses
• Molecular diagnosis
• Methods for typing microorganisms
• Reservoir of infection; Zoonoses

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

·         An understanding of the cycle of infection and the factors that influence the spread of an epidemic, using examples from bacteriology; virology; mycology, and/or protozoology

·         An understanding of the control points, using examples of intervention, vaccination, and/or antimicrobial chemotherapy

·         Understand the major routes for virus transmission and spread both within and between individuals, including the influence of human behaviour on this process

·         Discuss the development and evaluation of prevention and control strategies such as vaccines and antimicrobials

·         Discuss the epidemiological methods for the detection, analysis and control of outbreaks of infection and epidemics, and analyse simple epidemiological data

·         Discuss the methods available for typing microorganisms and their application to epidemiological investigation

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Case study: online test; open-book; deadline: Week 35


• Two-hour exam: two answers from a choice of five questions

Formative assessment and feedback

Exercises will be provided via SurreyLearn for students to practice their skills in handling epidemiolgical data.

Feedback about general understanding of epidemiological principles will be given during the outbreak simulation session that will run as tutorials in small groups.

Module aims

• Enable students to gain a critical understanding of the principles underlying the spread of infectious disease
• Develop an understanding of the science behind treatment and prevention strategies such as vaccination and antimicrobial chemotherapy
• Develop the ability to apply methods for studying the spread of disease through the use of examples and simulations

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Introduce the fundamental principles of epidemiology and control of infectious diseases, and develop an understanding of these principles using high-profile or recent examples. 

The learning and teaching methods include:
• Lectures – 23 hours
• Tutorials; including outbreak simulation discussion in small classes – 2 hours
• Extensive resources, quizzes,  and other exercises are available on SurreyLearn for directed independent learning

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS3073

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.