Course Outline
The course is delivered online in a Problem-Based Learning format and will require that students have a computer with at least a 56K modem to connect to the Internet, a CD-ROM drive, and an Email address.
Prerequisite: instructor permission required.
Course Duration
This course is 20 weeks in length (January through May) and extends beyond the regular UBC semester. If this is a concern for graduation, financial loans, or other deadlines you should not take the course. No exceptions or provisions will be made for early completion of the course.
Course Description
Pathology 427 introduces students to the principles of infection prevention and control, outbreak investigation and management, and surveillance techniques as well as other topics pertinent to long-term care, paediatric and community infection control.
The case topics include (but are not limited to): Isolation and barrier precautions, surveillance of nosocomial infections, infection control precautions, outbreak investigation, antibiotic resistance, common communicable diseases (e.g. tuberculosis, influenza), paediatric issues in infection control as well as the unique perspectives of long-term and ambulatory care.
Intended Student
This course will be of interest to anyone working in healthcare who would like to know about the prevention and control of infections, particularly nursing, infection control practitioners, rehabilitation sciences, public health, etc. It may also be of interest to those with a science background, e.g., epidemiology, integrated sciences, or medical microbiology, or those who wish to further their knowledge in infection control.
Course Objectives
Students who complete the course will have gained knowledge in:
- The fundamental principles of Body Substance Precautions, Standard Precautions, isolation requirements and appropriate barrier protection;
- Recognition of common communicable diseases and their management;
- Use of best evidence to support practice decisions;
- The approach to outbreak identification, investigation and management;
- Research skills in the area of online searches;
- Experience with the use of case-based learning to direct individual learning.
Course Outline:
- Introduction to the Course/Understanding the infection control structure
- Infection Control Precautions
- Nosocomial Infections and their surveillance/Outbreak Investigation
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Infection control in specialized care areas
- Paediatric issues in infection control
- Device-related and blood-borne infections
- Infection control and long-term care
- Community and ambulatory care issues in infection control
Course Evaluation
Students will be assessed on their participation in the interactive group learning process, the midterm exam, and the final exam. Assessment breakdown is as follows:
- Participation = 30%
- Midterm = 30%
- Final = 40%
Textbooks (see also Textbook Order Form)
Lautenbach E., et al. Practical Healthcare Epidemiology, 3rd Ed., University of Chicago Press, 2010.
Optional:
Red Book, 2006 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, 27th Ed.
Heymann, D. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 19th Ed. 2008. Am. Public Health Assoc., Wash. D.C.
Instructors
Dr. Elizabeth Bryce: Dr. Bryce holds subspecialty degrees in Internal Medicine and Medical Microbiology.
Dr. Diane Roscoe: Dr. Roscoe holds fellowships in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology.
