EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES - 2022/3

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

Module Leader

COTTELL Alison (Biosciences)

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: the cycle of infection. 
• Epidemics and disease patterns
• Mathematical modelling of epidemics: SIR models
• Analytical studies: Cohort and case control studies
• Bias and confounding factors
• Emerging infectious disease

• Vaccine evaluation; design of trials, analysis of data
• Antiviral chemotherapy, HIV and HCV
• Molecular ID, typing, and diagnosis
• 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:

• Coursework: Case studies


• One-hour exam: online test; open-book

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.

Practice tests will be available for the exam

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
• Conduct statistical analysis to evaluate cohort study and case-control study data, and evaluate the strengths of such links
• Understand principles of emerging infectious disease
• Understand the cycle of infection: sources of infectious disease and routes of spread

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 – 14 hours
• Computer workshops: epidemiological methods for data analysis, including discussion of outbreaks in small classes – 7 hours

Tutorials for feedback - 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 2022/3 academic year.