Public Health Worldwide Implications for Clinical Microbiology

Module details

Title

Public Health Worldwide Implications for Clinical Microbiology

Type

Specialist

Module code

SLS224

Credits

10

Requirement

Compulsory

Aim of this module

This module will provide the trainee with knowledge and understanding of the infection risks, investigative strategies and epidemiological changes associated with global travel, climate change and cultural environment. They will understand the strategy to prevent the spread of pandemic influenza and the global challenge of sexually transmitted infection and bioterrorism.

Competencies

#	Learning outcome	Competency	Action
# 1	Learning outcome 1	Competency Receive, process and store specimens referred for infectious diseases associated with worldwide travel and immigration in line with health and safety and laboratory procedures.	Action View
# 2	Learning outcome 1	Competency Perform laboratory investigations to contribute to investigation of at least two of the following: malaria haemorrhagic fever pandemic influenza common tropical infections.	Action View
# 3	Learning outcome 3,4	Competency Advise on diagnosis, prevention and treatment of travel-related or imported infections.	Action View
# 4	Learning outcome 3,4	Competency Advise on the management of potential incidents involving biological agents.	Action View
# 5	Learning outcome 4,6,8	Competency Evaluate the global response to the investigation, prevention and management of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infectious diseases.	Action View
# 6	Learning outcome 4,6,8	Competency Evaluate the global response to the investigation, prevention and management of tuberculosis.	Action View
# 7	Learning outcome 1,2,5	Competency Perform quality assurance and quality control tasks within the laboratory in the investigation of infectious diseases associated with worldwide travel and immigration.	Action View
# 8	Learning outcome 3,4,5,7,8	Competency Knowledge of specialist reference laboratories for infectious diseases associated with worldwide travel and immigration.	Action View
# 9	Learning outcome 6,7,8	Competency Select and use relevant software packages that assist with modelling the global spread of infectious diseases.	Action View

Assessments

You must complete:

• 2 case-based discussion(s)
• 2 of the following DOPS/ OCEs:

Perform serology and typing, if appropriate, of a travel related infectious disease	DOPS
Perform molecular diagnosis and typing, if appropriate of a travel related infectious disease	DOPS
Perform the molecular detection and typing of influenza	DOPS
Perform and interpret genotyping and or drug resistance data for HIV	DOPS
Perform and interpret genotyping and or drug resistance data for TB	DOPS
Under supervision obtain a patient history from a normal volunteer or typical patient referred to your service and present the findings to a colleague or peer	OCE
Participate in a multidisciplinary clinical meeting ward round where the management of TB is discussed	OCE
Participate in a multidisciplinary clinical meeting ward round where the management of HIV is discussed	OCE

Learning outcomes

1. Perform laboratory methods and clinical investigations for the management of infectious diseases associated with worldwide travel and immigration. Interpret and report results in the correct clinical context.
2. Critically evaluate and recommend strategies to prevent infections in travellers.
3. Evaluate the epidemiology of common traveller/migration-associated infectious diseases.
4. Comply with quality management system in the laboratory (and point-of-care) investigation of the pathogens related to this module.
5. Evaluate the interaction of national and international agencies in the planned prevention and management of pandemic influenza and bioterrorism.
6. Evaluate the global response to the investigation, prevention and management of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infectious diseases.
7. Work in partnership with other clinical specialisms, governments and agencies in being prepared for and implementing worldwide public health strategies.
8. Evaluate the global burden of global infectious diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis and other significant pathogens in developing countries.

Learning outcomes

1. Describe the pathogenesis of important microbial diseases associated with worldwide travel and immigration, including food, water-borne infections and common causes of infection in returning travellers.
2. Explain the epidemiology, range of surveillance tools, infection control mechanisms and clinical investigations used in the detection and management of common tropical infections associated with travel and immigration.
3. Evaluate the role of the World Health Organisation (WHO), governments, health providers and the clinical microbiology laboratory in the provision of information for management and treatment of microbial infections associated with travel and immigration.
4. Explain the epidemiology, distribution, investigation and management of pandemic influenza and other global infectious diseases.
5. Discuss the global challenge caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and other sexually transmitted infectious diseases and the steps being taken to reduce risk and manage the problem.
6. Describe and critically evaluate the roles of key organisations in world health and bioterrorism strategy development.
7. Discuss how Public Health England (PHE) and the PHE global health strategy contributes to improving global health and reducing global health inequalities, while helping to protect and improve health in England.

Indicative content

• Pathogens involved in food- and water-borne infections in the UK and beyond, and the role of the laboratory in investigation
• Common causes of infection in returning travellers (e.g. malaria, viral haemorrhagic fever)
• Epidemiology, distribution and investigation of common tropical infections found in visitors or immigrants (e.g. malaria, tuberculosis, enteric fever, cholera, dysentery, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, trypanosomiasis, gastrointestinal GIT parasites, dengue, yellow fever)
• Infectious diseases found more commonly in the UK as a result of easier global travel (e.g. West Nile Virus, other arboviruses)
• Epidemiology, distribution, investigation and management of pandemic influenza and other global infectious diseases. The role of the WHO, governments and health providers
• The global challenge of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
• Management of worldwide infectious disease (e.g. smallpox, rabies, tuberculosis)
• Bioterrorism and measures to reduce risk
• Public Health England (PHE) Global Health Strategy
• The role of PHE in public health world-wide including:
  • Improving global health security and meeting responsibilities under the International Health Regulations
  • Responding to outbreaks and incidents of international concern, and supporting the public health response to humanitarian disasters
  • Building public health capacity
  • International engagement on aspects of health and wellbeing, and non-communicable diseases
  • Strengthening UK partnerships for global health activity

Activities

• Use published case studies to describe the aetiology and spread of pandemic influenza. Review how national and international agencies collaborate to manage the outbreak, and discuss the state of preparedness and role of clinical microbiology laboratories.
• Use published case studies to describe examples of bioterrorism using infectious agents. Review how national and international agencies collaborate to manage the situation, and discuss the state of preparedness and role of clinical microbiology laboratories.
• Use published case studies to describe the aetiology and spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infectious diseases. Discuss the role of the World Health Organization (WHO), other international agencies and national organizations that collaborate in reducing infection through education and prophylaxis.
• Use published case studies to describe the aetiology and spread of malaria, tuberculosis and other relevant infectious diseases. Discuss the role of the WHO, other international agencies and national organisations that collaborate in reducing infection through education and prophylaxis.
• Recommend worldwide public health strategies for each of three different global infections. In each case produce a report with learning points that highlights the role of core and specialist clinical microbiology laboratories. To include in-depth knowledge of three chosen global infections, including:
  • epidemiology
  • aetiology
  • clinical presentation
  • diagnosis (clinical and laboratory)
  • prevention and treatment
  • role of core and specialist laboratories
  • global efforts towards eradication
• Identify a current instance of surveillance of an infectious disease. Attend meetings to review and discuss surveillance, and report on your experience, including the implications for the relevant community and the implications for your future practice.
• Attend meetings to review and discuss outbreaks of infectious diseases. Review your experience in terms of the identified causes, implications for the relevant community and the implications for your future practice.
• Attend meetings with clinical colleagues to discuss current outbreaks.
• Identify and review case(s) of outbreaks or relevant incidents – compare and contrast the differences between these cases in terms of cause, investigation, outcomes and effect on the relevant community. Consider implications for your future practice.