MICROBIOLOGIA FARMACEUTICA, BIOTECNOLOGIE MICROBICHE FARMACEUTICHE E PRINCIPI DI IGIENEModule PRINCIPI DI IGIENE
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: MARGHERITA FERRANTEExpected Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will acquire basic knowledge of the principles of hygiene and prevention applied to individual and public health. In particular, they will gain knowledge of the determinants of health, the main risk factors associated with lifestyles and environmental conditions, the mechanisms underlying the onset and spread of infectious diseases, and the principal strategies for the prevention of chronic-degenerative diseases. The course will also address the relationships between environment and health, with reference to issues related to biological, chemical, and physical pollution of different environmental matrices.
Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to recognize and evaluate the main factors influencing the health status of the population, with particular reference to the role of physical activity in health promotion and disease prevention. They will also be able to understand the basic principles of preventive measures and health promotion strategies in educational and community settings.
Students will develop the ability to critically evaluate information related to health risk factors and prevention strategies, interpreting data and information derived from the scientific literature and institutional sources. These skills will enable them to formulate preliminary assessments of the most appropriate behaviors and interventions for the protection and promotion of health.
Students will be able to use appropriate scientific terminology to describe health determinants, risk factors, and the main prevention strategies, communicating clearly and accurately information related to health promotion and healthy lifestyles in educational and communitary contexts.
By the end of the course, students will have acquired the conceptual tools necessary to independently deepen their knowledge of hygiene, prevention, and health promotion, developing the ability to update their knowledge through consultation of scientific literature and institutional sources in the field of public health.
Course Structure
Interactive didactic with case-study presentation.
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.
Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.
Detailed Course Content
Principles of demography and health statistics. Sources of demographic and health data. demographic indicators. mortality and morbidity indicators. Indicators of quality of life.
Principles of epidemiological methodology. The measures in epidemiology .The epidemiological studies: descriptive epidemiology; analytical epidemiology; Experimental epidemiology. The causal relationship in epidemiology. The risk assessment. systematic reviews and meta-analysis. The medicine based on evidence of effectiveness.
Epidemiology of of infectious diseases. Mode of infection transmission. The contagion chains. The natural course of infection.
General principles of epidemiology of chronic degenerative diseases and disabilities. The necessary causes and the sufficient causes. Risk factors and protective factors. Causes and factors in the physical and social environment. Lifestyle and health. Frequency of chronic degenerative diseases and other damaging events in the population.
Methodology for prevention and health promotion. Objectives and methods of prevention (primary, secondary and tertiary).
Prevention of infectious diseases. primary prevention of infection Interruption of transmission chains. Interventions for the discovery and inactivation of infection sources. Active and passive immunoprophylaxis. Chemoprophylaxis. Secondary prevention of infections.
Prevention of chronic degenerative diseases and disabilities, primary, secondary and tertiary.
Principles of health education. Health and health promotion. Methods and models of communication. Strategies for health promotion. Health promotion in the Ottawa paper.
Epidemiology and prevention of infectious diseases.
Europe-wide surveillance systems. The networks and activities of ECDC (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control).
- Respiratory tract infections: influenza, tuberculosis, legionellosis.
- Infections transmitted by parenteral or sexual: acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), viral hepatitis B and C, gonorrhea, syphilis,
infection with human papilloma virus.
- Food-borne infections and zoonoses: cholera, hepatitis A and E, typhoid fever, gastroenteritis.
- Emerging and vector-borne infections: arbovirus infections, leishmaniasis, malaria, rickettsial.
- Infections preventable by vaccination: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, bacterial meningitis, chickenpox infections, invasive bacterial, rotavirus infections.
- Infections acquired in healthcare sector (HAI, hospital acquired infections): the surveillance programs and national and European networks.
- Epidemiologia and prevention of major chronic diseases. cardiovascular diseases, malignant tumors, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Health promotion and disease prevention in the different phases of life. Pre conceptional prevention, prenatal and neonatal. Health needs in children. Health needs in adulthood. Defense and promotion of health in the elderly.
Food hygiene and nutrition
-Food hygiene. Food and related health issues. microbial contamination. Restoration and preservation of foods. Food safety
Environment and health.
- Environmental factors such as certain health and disease. The pollution of the environment and its effects on health and. The water and its characteristics. Water intended for human consumption, treatment and distribution. Mineral waters. Use of water for recreational purposes. The municipal wastewater, agricultural and industrial. Air pollution; the effects on health and environment of air pollutants. The medical waste and municipal solid waste. Electromagnetic pollution. Risk factors and prevention in living and working environments.
Health organization: Health organization at international and European level. The national health service in Italy: the central, regional and local levels. The health planning. The national health plan and regional health plans. The Health Management.
Textbook Information
1) Antonio Azara, Annalaura Carducci, Osvalda De Giglio, Margherita Ferrante, Tiziana Schilirò, Marco Vinceti. Igiene Ambientale. EDISES, Napoli 2024.
2) Maria Triassi, Gabriella Aggazzotti, Margherita Ferrante, Igiene Medicina Preventiva e del Territorio, II edizione, Sorbona, Idelson Gnocchi, Napoli 2015.
3) Buffoli M, Capolongo S., Odone A, Signorelli C. Salute e Ambienter, EDISES, Napoli 2016.
4) Gilli G. Professione igienista Manuale dell'igiene ambientale e territoriale. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano 2010.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Principi di demografia e di statistica sanitaria. Fonti dei dati demografici e sanitari. Indicatori demografici. Indicatori di mortalità e di morbosità. Indicatori della qualità della vita. | Testo2 Capitoli 3.1, 3.2, 3.5. |
| 2 | Principi di metodologia epidemiologica. Le misure in epidemiologia. Gli studi epidemiologici: epidemiologia descrittiva; epidemiologia analitica; epidemiologia sperimentale. La relazione causale in epidemiologia. La valutazione del rischio. Revisioni sist | Testo1 Capitolo 1; Testo 2 Capitoli 3.3, 3.4, da 3.6 a 3.9. |
| 3 | Principi di epidemiologia delle malattie infettive. Modalità di trasmissione delle infezioni. Le catene di contagio. L’andamento naturale delle infezioni. Principi generali di epidemiologia delle malattie cronico-degenerative e delle disabilità. Le cause | Testo 1 Capitolo 5.1. |
| 4 | Metodologia per la prevenzione e la promozione della salute. Obiettivi e metodi della prevenzione (prevenzione primaria, secondaria e terziaria). La prevenzione delle malattie infettive. Prevenzione primaria delle infezioni Interruzione delle catene di tr | Testo 1 Capitolo 5.2. |
| 5 | Prevenzione delle malattie cronico-degenerative e delle disabilità. Prevenzione primaria, secondaria e terziaria. Principi di educazione salute. Strategie di promozione della salute. Modalità e modelli di comunicazione. Carta di Ottawa. | Slide su Studium. |
| 6 | Epidemiologia e prevenzione delle principali malattie infettive. | Testo 1 Capitolo da 5.3 a 5.10. |
| 7 | Epidemiologia e prevenzione delle principali malattie cronico degenerative. Malattie cardiovascolari,Tumori maligni, Diabete, Bronco-pneumopatie croniche ostruttive. | Testo 1 Capitolo 6. |
| 8 | Promozione della salute e prevenzione delle malattie nelle diverse fasi della vita. Prevenzione preconcezionale , prenatale e neonatale. Bisogni di salute in età evolutiva. Bisogni di salute nell’età adulta. Difesa e promozione della salute nell’anziano. | Slide su Studium. |
| 9 | Igiene dell’alimentazione e della nutrizione. Igiene degli alimenti. Alimenti e problematiche sanitarie connesse. Contaminazione microbica. Risanamento e conservazione degli alimenti. Sicurezza alimentare | Testo 1 Capitolo 4. |
| 10 | Ambiente e salute. I fattori ambientali come determinati di salute e di malattie. L’inquinamento dell’ambiente e suoi riflessi sulla salute. L’acqua e le sue caratteristiche. Le acque destinate al consumo umano, trattamento e distribuzione dell’acqua. | Testo 1 Capitoli 3.7, 3.3; Testo2 Capitoli 2, 6; Testo 3 Capitoli inerenti. |
| 11 | Acque minerali. Uso dell’acqua a scopo ricreativo. Le acque reflue civili, agricole e industriali. L’inquinamento atmosferico; gli effetti sulla salute e sull’ambiente degli inquinanti atmosferici. | Testo 1 Capitoli 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, Testo 2 Capitolo 4. Testo 3 Capitoli inerenti. |
| 12 | I rifiuti sanitari ed i rifiuti solidi urbani. Inquinamento elettromagnetico. Fattori di rischio e prevenzione negli ambienti di vita e di lavoro. | Testo 1 Capitoli 3.2, 3.8, 3.10, 3.11; Testo 2 Capitoli 5,7; Testo 3 Capitoli inerenti. |
| 13 | Economia e organizzazione sanitaria Principi di economia sanitaria. I principi base dell’economia. Gli elementi della valutazione economica. Tecniche di valutazione economica. | Testo 1 Capitolo 2. |
| 14 | Organizzazione sanitaria a livello internazionale ed europeo. Il servizio sanitario nazionale in Italia: il livello centrale, regionale e locale. La programmazione sanitaria. Il piano sanitario nazionale e Piani sanitari regionali. Il management sanitario | Testo 1 Capitolo 2. |