SCIENZE DELLA PREVENZIONE IIModule IGIENE OSPEDALIERA
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: ROBERTA MAGNANO SAN LIOExpected Learning Outcomes
The Course aims to provide students with:
· advanced knowledge on the impact of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) at national, European, and global levels;
· mastery of the concepts, methods, and tools of epidemiological surveillance of HAIs, in accordance with the standards of major national and European programs;
· skills for the critical evaluation of data derived from surveillance investigations;
· the ability to analyze and apply the main strategies for the prevention and control of HAIs in different healthcare settings.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Hard Skills (A4.b.2)
Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Describe the epidemiology of HAIs at national, European, and global levels.
· Explain the main risk factors associated with HAIs in different healthcare settings.
· Illustrate epidemiological surveillance systems for HAIs according to national and European standards.
· Understand epidemiological indicators, incidence/prevalence rates, and data collection and analysis methodologies.
· Identify the main evidence-based strategies for the prevention and control of HAIs.
Applying Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Apply epidemiological surveillance tools for the analysis of HAI data.
· Correctly interpret the results of surveillance investigations.
· Critically evaluate HAI prevention and control protocols.
· Contribute to the design of improvement interventions in healthcare settings.
· Support clinical and healthcare decision-making through the use of epidemiological evidence.
Soft Skills (A4.c)
Autonomy of Judgment
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Critically evaluate epidemiological data and surveillance reports.
· Identify methodological limitations and potential biases in HAI investigations.
· Integrate scientific evidence, guidelines, and operational context into healthcare decision-making.
Communication Skills
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Clearly communicate epidemiological data and surveillance results to healthcare professionals and non-specialists.
· Present concise and well-structured reports on HAIs.
· Collaborate within multidisciplinary teams for infection risk management.
· Use appropriate technical language in scientific and professional contexts.
Learning Skills
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Independently retrieve and analyze up-to-date scientific sources on HAIs.
· Update their competencies in relation to regulatory and scientific developments.
· Apply lifelong learning methodologies in the field of epidemiology.
· Adapt knowledge and tools to new or complex healthcare settings.
Course Structure
Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Textbook Information
2. Vitale F, Zagra M. Igiene, epidemiologia e organizzazione sanitaria orientate per problemi. Editore: Elsevier – Masson.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI): definitions, epidemiology, prevention and control. | Ad hoc material will be distributed during the course of the lessons and will be made available on the Studium website |
| 2 | The surveillance of HAIs at European level: definitions, activities, strategies and principles. ECDC surveillance networks. | Ad hoc material will be distributed during the course of the lessons and will be made available on the Studium website |
| 3 | The epidemiological studies of HAIs: repeated prevalence studies, incidence studies, laboratory-based surveillance. | Ad hoc material will be distributed during the course of the lessons and will be made available on the Studium website |
| 4 | Surveillance of Surgical Site Infections. The surveillance of HAIs in the Intensive Care Units: European and national projects. | Ad hoc material will be distributed during the course of the lessons and will be made available on the Studium website |
| 5 | Compliance with the guidelines of antibiotic prophylaxis. Patient safety and clinical risk management. | Ad hoc material will be distributed during the course of the lessons and will be made available on the Studium website |
| 6 | Hand hygiene. The Clean Care is Safer Care Project of the WHO. | Ad hoc material will be distributed during the course of the lessons and will be made available on the Studium website |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The highest grade will be assigned to the student who has demonstrated mastery of the topics, ability to apply knowledge, communication skills and mastery of the disciplinary vocabulary.
Verification of learning can also be carried out by an online platform, if needed