| Title: |
Epidemiology & Control of Infectious Diseases in Outbreak Settings (EPICID) |
| Keywords: |
Statistics (incl.. risk assessment)
Outbreaks
Epidemiology
Disease prevention & control
Communicable diseases (in general)
|
| Country: |
Germany
|
| Institution: |
Germany - Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)
|
| Course coordinator: |
Dr Dewi Ismajani Puradiredja
|
| Date start: |
2021-11-08 |
| Date end: |
2021-11-26 |
| About duration and dates: |
The course covers a period of 3 weeks, in which students engage full-time in face-to-face teaching and learning activities, including lectures (55 hours), and individual- and group-based practical sessions (34.5 hours), a written exam (1.5 hours) and a simulated outbreak investigation (14 hours) |
| Classification: |
advanced optional
|
| Mode of delivery: |
Face to face
|
Course location:
Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)
Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 74
20359 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 42818 243
Email: shortcourse@bnitm.de
Website: www.bnitm.de
tropEd representative: Dewi Ismajani Puradiredja
Email: puradiredja@bnitm.de |
|
| ECTS credit points: |
3.5 ECTS credits
|
SIT:
105 SIT (incl. 89.5 hours contact time + 14 hours group-based simulated outbreak investigation + 1.5 hours individual assessed assignment) |
|
| Language: |
English
|
Description:
By the end of this module, students should be able to:
i. Explain the key principles underpinning infectious disease epidemiology, and the epidemiological steps in outbreak investigations
ii. Discuss current issues in infectious diseases and their control
iii. Design questionnaires and manage data using RedCap
iv. Conduct descriptive statistics, measures of frequency and measures of association using R
v. Discuss field operational issues, including laboratory services and diagnostics in the field, infectious disease prevention and control strategies, and biosafety and biosecurity
vi. Design, carry out, analyse, interpret and report an outbreak investigation as part of interdisciplinary teams |
|
Assessment Procedures:
Towards the end of course week 3 the students will have to complete:
i. Individual assignment: 1.5 hours written exam, involving 47 single and multiple choice questions as well as equation-based calculations and open questions (80%)
in order to assess LOs i), ii), and v)
ii. Group assignment: oral presentation of group-based outbreak investigation (20%)
In order to assess LOs iii), iv), and vi)
A failing grade in one of the two assignments is allowed as long as the total mark for the module is 60% or better. A fail in the individual exam can be re-sit the day after the course has ended. Alternatively, a report based on the simulated outbreak investigation can be submitted within one week after the course has ended. |
|
Content:
The module includes sections addressing the following topics:
Section 1 Principles of Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Outbreak Investigations
The first section provides an overview of the key principles of infectious disease epidemiology and provides epidemiological methods applicable to the investigation of outbreaks.
Section 2 Data collection, management and analysis for outbreak investigations
This section deals with questionnaire design and interviewing, outbreak investigation data collection and management using RED Cap, and data analysis using R
Section 3 Field operations and laboratory services
This sections covers field operations and laboratory services within the context of outbreak investigations. Topics range from mobile to BSL4 laboratories, field sequencing, infectious disease prevention and control strategies, material transfer agreements, packaging and shipping, biosafety and biosecurity.
Section 4 Current issues in infectious diseases and their control
This section provides an overview of current issues in infectious diseases and their control with a focus on a selection of infectious diseases/pathogens, such as Malaria, haemorrhagic fever viruses, neglected tropical diseases, and, Salmonella. This section also covers vaccines and vaccine programmes, and antimicrobial resistance.
Cross-cutting topics include:
Interdisciplinary communication |
|
Methods:
Teaching and learning methods include lectures (55 hours), individual- and group-based practical sessions (34.5 hours), including case study table top exercises, REDCap and R practical sessions, field operational and infectious diseases prevention and control training elements, as well as a written exam (1.5 hours), and a simulated outbreak investigation (14 hours). |
|
Prerequisites:
Basic training in epidemiology and statistics is required. General computer skills are necessary in order to be able to work with software packages REDCap and R. The course is intensive and a strong command of the English language is essential. tropEd and other students who would like to take the course as part of their degree should demonstrate an English language proficiency equivalent to TOEFL test 550 or 213 computer-based or 79/80 internet-based or IELTS band 6.0, unless they are native speakers or they can provide written proof of having completed higher education in English. |
|
Attendance:
21 (max. 15 tropEd students) |
|
Selection:
EPICID strives to have a diverse student group. Selection criteria include:
- Time of submission of application
- Motivational statement
- Previous professional and academic experience
- Country of origin (low, middle or high income country)
- tropEd student status |
|
Fees:
General admission: 1650 € (1350 € if participants register within 2 weeks of acceptance notification)
tropEd student and applicants from low- and middle-income countries: 1200 € (900 € if participants register within 2 weeks of acceptance notification). |
|
Scholarships:
Participants from low and middle-income countries can apply for an Ortrud Mührer Travel Grant. For more details and the application form, please contact: shortcourse@bnitm.de |
|
tropEd accreditation:
First accredited at Online tropEd GA (“Hamburg”), June 2020. This accreditation is valid until June 2025. |
|
Remarks:
Students will have access to the BNITM virtual learning environment (Moodle). The Moodle-based EPICID course room will be the main means of communication with the group and for sharing key course-related information and training materials, such as lecture hand outs, practice data sets, and R-Scripts.
Recommended readings include:
Giesecke J, (2017). Modern Infectious Disease Epidemiology. 3rd Ed. Hodder Arnold. ISBN: 9781444180022.
Krämer A, Kretzschmar M, Krickeberg K (Eds); Modern Infectious Disease Epidemiology: Concepts, Methods, Mathematical Models And Public Health. Statistics for Biology and Health. New York: Springer
Rothman KJ, Greenland S, Lash TL (Eds). Modern Epidemiology 3 rd Edition. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins 2008 ISBN 031675780-2.
Kirkwood B. Sterne J. Essential Medical Statistics. 2nd Edition Blackwell Scientific 2003. ISBN 0865428719.
Heymann, DL (Ed.). Control of Communicable Diseases in Man (19th Edition). American Public Health Association 2008 ISBN 087553189X |
|
| Email Address: |
puradiredja@bnitm.de |
| Date Of Record Creation: |
2020-09-21 05:22:50 (W3C-DTF) |
| Date Of Record Release: |
2020-09-21 10:35:41 (W3C-DTF) |
| Date Record Checked: |
2020-09-21 (W3C-DTF) |
| Date Last Modified: |
2020-09-21 11:23:33 (W3C-DTF) |
