Department of Community Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine Academic Year 2013-2014 Winter SESSION
MDCH 649 Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases Course Coordinators:
Elizabeth A. Henderson, PhD Telephone: 403-944-7343
Co-instructors/Preceptors: Thomas J. Louis, MD Telephone: 403-944-2037 Course Dates:
January – April Mondays 9 - 12
Location: Health Sciences Centre Room 743 as well as On-line Course Description MDCH 649 (formerly MDSC 613.01) is a web-based course which will be offered through Desire2Learn using Elluminate with a combination of in-class and geographically remote students. Students will regularly participate in discussions held through a variety of media including online chats and discussion boards using Blackboard, as well as guest lectures and web-based conferences using Elluminate. The format for the course is seminar discussion with participation expected from students taking the course face-to-face and from those taking the course on-line. Seminars will be lead by faculty, students and invited guests. All students will be expected to attend each class fully prepared to participate actively in discussions. The focus of this course will be on the principles of epidemiology that are of particular relevance to infectious diseases. The underlying theme for this course will emphasize the research aspects of infectious diseases epidemiology and how the basic techniques of epidemiology and biostatistics are applied in the communicable diseases. This course is also intended to foster an interdisciplinary approach and to aid in the integration of knowledge and skills in clinical and community based epidemiology, infectious diseases, antimicrobial therapy, microbial pathogenesis, molecular epidemiology, and provide a basis for evaluation of relevant health care services and programs into the community. The course assignments include contributing to online and in-class discussions, mid-term and final examinations and a term paper. Graduate students are the intended audience. Prerequisite None
MDCH 649 - Course Syllabus - 1
Department of Community Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine Academic Year 2013-2014 Winter SESSION
Required Resources Class handouts, powerpoint presentations and readings will be posted on Desire2Learn as they become available. Desire2Learn is a sophisticated e-Learning management system that makes use of sound instructional practices, social media, current technology, and intuitive functionality to create powerful and meaningful learning environments. Topics for on-line discussion will be posted throughout the course. Information on Deisre2learn is located at http://elearn.ucalgary.ca/desire2learn/ This link will be posted as well. The login site for Desire2Learn is http://d2l.ucalgary.ca Students are expected to be confident users of computer and Internet technology and routinely use these resources. Minimum Computer Requirements You will need: • Internet access (preferably high speed) • Windows operating system (Windows XP or later) • Java enabled browser (Internet explorer 5.5 or later) • Adobe Acrobat Reader 6 (or later) • Microsoft Word and Powerpoint or equivalent software. If you are unsure as to your computer’s software or are missing some of the software, contact your IT department at work. Suggested Textbook Nelson, KE; Williams, CM, (Editors) (2014). Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Third Edition. Toronto: Jones and Bartlett Learning. Estimated price $ 125.00 + GST. *Resource material and textbook is available through the University of Calgary Medical Bookstore at 403-220-6863. The Bookstore charges a shipping cost to mail out or courier the books. Course Goals The course goals are to: • Explore the determinants and distribution of infection and disease in a population and the factors that influence the frequency, spread and distribution of infectious diseases; • Examine the basic concepts of infectious diseases epidemiology such as the "iceberg effect", herd immunity, periodicity, epidemic versus endemic disease, seasonality, resurgence, eradication, vaccination success and failure, etc. using examples; and • Demonstrate the use of various epidemiological tools in infectious diseases.
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Department of Community Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine Academic Year 2013-2014 Winter SESSION
Learner Objectives Following completion of this course, students will be able to: •
Identify the factors that influence the frequency, spread and distribution of infectious diseases.
•
Apply the basic concepts of infectious diseases epidemiology using examples.
•
Demonstrate the epidemiologic tools/methods used to study infectious diseases.
Academic Integrity The Department of Community Health Sciences expects intellectual honesty from its students. Course participants should be aware of University policies relating to Principles of Conduct, Plagiarism and Academic Integrity. These are found in the printed Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar, or online under Faculty Regulations in the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar, or at www.ucalgary.ca/pubs/calendar/current/how/How_LB.htm. Cut Points For Grades This course adheres to the grading system outlined in the University of Calgary, Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar. Percentage/letter-grade conversions are standard for courses in the Department of Community Health Sciences. Grade
Course %
Grade Point Value*
Graduate Description*
A+
97-100
4.0
Outstanding
A
90-96.5
4.0
A-
85-89.5
3.7
Excellent Very good performance
B+
77-84.5
3.3
Good performance
B
72-76.5
3.0
B-
68-71.5
2.7
C+
63-67.5
2.3
C
60-62.5
2.0
Satisfactory performance Minimum pass for students in the Faculty of Grad Studies All grades below B- are indicative of failure at the graduate level and cannot be counted toward Faculty of Graduate Studies course requirements.
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Department of Community Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine Academic Year 2013-2014 Winter SESSION
Late Assignments: • Assignments are due on the specified date by 9 AM. Students who hand in assignments late will be penalized 5% per day for handing in late. Assignments that are handed in 14 calendar days or more after the due date will be refused and the students assigned a score of zero for the assignment. • Students may hand in assignments late without penalty under the following circumstances: o The student has discussed the timelines with course instructor in advance of the due date and the course instructor has granted an extension o There is a valid health or family emergency such as is discussed under the University regulations for deferral of final examinations. Students may be required to provide the Course Coordinator with such documentation related to illness and/or emergency as is discussed and required in the University regulations pertaining to deferral of final examinations. This information can be found in the University Calendar.
Evaluation Plan Course contributions include on-line and in-class discussion, 2 examinations and 1 individual paper.
Due Dates
% of Final Mark
#1
10%
Evaluation Method Class Participation Students will regularly participate in discussions held through a variety of media including online chats and discussion boards using Blackboard, as well as guest lectures and web-based conferences using Elluminate. All students will be expected to attend each class fully prepared to participate actively in discussions.
#2
20%
Mid-term Examination (Take Home)
February 10 – Exam Posted
This exam is scenario based and is designed to test the individual's ability to apply the principles and concepts of infectious disease epidemiology to defined problems or situations.
February 24 – Exam Due
The mid-term exam will be take-home examinations that will be posted on Blackboard at least 7 days prior to the date they are due. Examinations must be posted to the digital drop box on Blackboard.
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Department of Community Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine Academic Year 2013-2014 Winter SESSION
#3
30%
April 14 – Exam Posted
Final Examination (Take Home) This exam is scenario based and is designed to test the individual's ability to apply the principles and concepts of infectious disease epidemiology to defined problems or situations.
April 21 – Exam Due
The final exam will be take-home examinations that will be posted on Blackboard at least 7 days prior to the date they are due. Examinations must be posted to the digital drop box on Blackboard.
#4 April 14
40%
Individual paper (15 pages) Report on the epidemiology of a specific infectious disease or use of a tool for infectious diseases epidemiology that incorporates the principles and concepts presented in the course that are relevant to the specific disease. Not longer than 15 pages (excluding references). Term papers must be posted to the digital drop box on Blackboard.
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Department of Community Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine Academic Year 2013-2014 Winter SESSION
COURSE TIMETABLE Winter 2014 January 13 Dr. E. Henderson Chapters 1, 2, 3 Health Sciences Centre Room 743
January 20 Dr. E. Henderson Health Sciences Centre Room 743
January 27 Dr. J. MacDonald Chapter 4
• Concepts, definitions and methods of infectious epidemiology o Causation o Transmission o Infection versus disease ("iceberg effect") o Incidence (attack rate) and prevalence o Epidemic versus endemic infections o Periodicity, seasonality
diseases
• The impact of social changes on the epidemiology of infectious diseases discussion of o The impact of health care cuts, o Cuts in social programs, o Homelessness etc.
• Surveillance techniques o Sentinel systems o Active versus passive surveillance o Syndromic Surveillance o Public Health Act
Health Sciences Centre Room 743
February 3 Dr. E. Henderson (0900 – 1000) Ms. P. Webster (1030– 1200)
• Outbreak and/or epidemic investigations o Principles of investigation o Index case o Point source versus propagated epidemics • Practical examples
Chapter 5 Health Sciences Centre Room 743
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Department of Community Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine Academic Year 2013-2014 Winter SESSION
February 10 Dr. T. Louie Chapter 10 & 12 Health Sciences Centre Room 743
• Host determinants of infection o Normal flora o Cell-mediated immunity o Humoral immunity • Persistence and microbial survival strategies Mid-term Examination Distributed
February 16-23
NO CLASS – Reading Week (February 17 -- Family Day)
February 24 Dr. J. Conly
• Antimicrobials o Use and abuse o Resistance o Ecology o Multi-resistant organisms Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus Gram negative organisms Mid-term Due
Chapter 13 Health Sciences Centre Room 743
March 3 Dr. S Cork
• Human-Animal Interface o Overview of zoonotic diseases in Canada o Route of exposure to pathogens of animal origin
Health Sciences Centre Room 743
• Critical control points in the prevention of zoonoses
March 10 Dr. E. Henderson Chapter 14 Health Sciences Centre Room 743
March 17 Dr. E. Henderson Health Sciences Centre Room 743
• Healthcare associated infections o What are they? o Why are they important? o The hospital environment o Types of Infections o Risk factors for infection
• Immunisation and Eradication Programs o Vaccine successes (e.g. polio, smallpox, HIB) o Vaccine failures (e.g. measles, pertussis) o Effects vaccination programs have on the natural history of disease
Chapter 11
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Department of Community Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine Academic Year 2013-2014 Winter SESSION
March 24 Dr. R. Read Chapters 21 & 23 Health Sciences Centre Room 743
March 31 Dr. T. Louie Chapter 20 Health Sciences Centre Room 743 April 7 Ms. K. Bush (9-1030 hours) Dr. D. Vickers (10451150 hours) Chapter 6 & 7 Health Sciences Centre Room 743 April 14 Ms. Rhonda Fur (0900-1030 hours) Ms. Jenine Leal (10451200 Hours) Health Sciences Centre Room 743
April 21
• Control of communicable diseases with specific discussion related to sexually-transmitted diseases including: o Contact tracing o Public Health Act • Therapy options
• Gastro-enteritis including most bacterial and viral infection o Verotoxin producing E. coli o Salmonella & Shigella o Campylobacter o Norovirus o Clostridium difficile infection
• Geographic Information System o What it is? o How it can be used o Challenges of use
o Examples of GIS use for infectious disease • Mathematical Modelling & Infectious Diseases o What it is? o How it can be used o Challenges of use o Examples • Social Network Analysis o What is it o How can it be used? o Challenges o Examples • Economic Evaluation o What is it o How can it be used? o Challenges o Examples Final examination posted Term paper due Final examination due
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