Health protection and epidemiology

Details

Title

Health protection and epidemiology

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HLS238

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect to the importance of control of communicable diseases and monitoring of antibiotic resistance patterns in hospitals and in the community and be able to evaluate effectiveness of services to prevent, diagnose and treat infection, be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform, adapt and master a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures and
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice  at this level.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• the principles and practices of surveillance of infectious disease and antibiotic resistance, including the use of routine and enhanced surveillance systems
• the principles of outbreak investigation
• the role of public health bodies (e.g. the PHE) or equivalent bodies at local, regional and national levels
• the role of others in the prevention and control of infection
• the general principles involved in immunisation programmes
  • describe methods of vaccine delivery, surveillance of immunisation programmes and evaluation of vaccine efficacy
• the preparations required to plan for the next epidemic of influenza including the value of mathematical modelling
• the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation of current perceived potential microbiological agents for bio-terrorism
  • outline the potential for abuse of laboratory organisms for bioterrorism and the current relevant legislative framework, including the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2004
• the role and function of reference laboratories.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance, adaptation and mastery of the following technical procedures and laboratory skills to

• correctly utilise laboratory reporting and monitoring trends (e.g. in antimicrobial resistance).
  • handle and interpret data
  • use basic statistics and bioinformatics appropriately
  • recognise the value and limitations of surveillance systems (e.g. for surgical site infection, other HAI, Legionnaires’ disease, meningococcal disease, TB)
• liaise and communicate with CCDCs, consultants in health protection, EHOs, REs,
• give basic health and travel advice and refer to other sources of information and support
• recognise abnormal patterns of infection
  • deal with the unexpected
  • liaise with others to initiate a clinical and managerial response and institute remediation, including defining, establishing and maintaining the appropriate levels of laboratory security to ensure due diligence in the prevention of criminal misuse of organisms
• refer material to reference laboratories in a timely manner
• use the expertise of reference laboratories to inform local practice

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to apply knowledge of health protection and epidemiology to perform, adapt and master the clinical skills necessary to:

• Make a differential diagnosis with respect to infections with public health importance and abnormal disease presentations.