MPH Master of Public Health (Communicable Disease Prevention and Control) / Course details
Year of entry: 2023
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Course unit details:
Infection Prevention & Control
| Unit code | POPH65552 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 15 |
| Unit level | FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
| Teaching period(s) | Summer semester |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
This course unit is one of the blended options provided on the MPH. Students choosing Infection Prevention and Control will need to be available for the face-to-face teaching block running 3 - 5 July 2023 at The University of Manchester. The 3 days will involve live webinars, presentations and group work. Students will also work together on a group presentation as their mid-term assignment. In the event of a change in government policy preventing face-to-face teaching, the 3-day block would be moved to online. We will keep you informed of any changes via My Manchester and regular programme communications.
Aims
- Identify the impact of healthcare associated infections and provide an introduction to the art and science of Infection Prevention and Control, appraising the evidence-base behind policies, guidance and implementation.
- Equip students with the skills to apply core principles of Infection Prevention and Control in their professional settings.
Learning outcomes
| Category of outcome | Students should be able to: |
| Knowledge and understanding | A1 Explain the core principles and processes of Infection Prevention and Control A2 Discuss the implementation of policies and guidance in relation to Infection Prevention and Control in global settings |
| Intellectual skills | B1 Analyse the evidence-base for healthcare associated infections and discuss the global burden and implications for public health B2 Critically appraise the evidence-base informing policy, frameworks and best practice in Infection Prevention and Control B3 Consider the potential impacts of healthcare associated infections across a range of settings, and examine the appropriate responses and mitigations |
| Practical skills | C1 Apply Infection Prevention and Control principles to real world scenarios C2 Apply root cause analysis, audit or outbreak investigation of healthcare associated infections in specific settings |
| Transferable skills and personal qualities | D1 Transfer knowledge and skills gained to professional roles |
Syllabus
- Burden of disease from healthcare associated infections.
- Infection Prevention and Control teams and procedures.
- Basic communicable disease control.
- Audit, surveillance and investigation.
- Antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance.
- Practical applications of guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control teams, including hand hygiene, personal protective equipment and cleaning.
- Case studies (including Staphylococcus aureus, TB, Clostridium difficile, Norovirus, bloodborne viruses, Ebola, Covid-19).
- Infection Prevention and Control in global settings.
- Practical applications of root cause analysis/audit/outbreak investigation.
Teaching and learning methods
This course unit will include an e-textbook provided through the University library and additional reading of articles, policies and media publications will be required. Peer reviewed publications will be highlighted (and accessible through the University library), and key publications, frameworks and guidelines will be utilised throughout the course. Where relevant, issues relating to wider applications of Infection Prevention and Control in the media will be incorporated. Students will be encouraged to explore their own sources.
The online course materials will include reflective study tasks and topic based discussions hosted on blackboard. Students will undertake ungraded, self-administered quizzes to gauge their own progress in the online content. Topic specific learning outcomes for each study week will supplement the intended learning outcomes set out above.
This is a blended unit, and students will need to be available for a 3-day face-to-face teaching block from 5th-7th July 2022. During these sessions students will take part in tutorials led by practitioners and experts in Infection Prevention and Control, delivered through a combination of real-time and recorded activities. Students will work together to complete a group assignment in the form of a presentation based on the course material and the learning from the sessions, which will be awarded a group mark. In the event of a change in government policy preventing face-to-face teaching, the 3-day block would be moved to online. We will keep you informed of any changes via My Manchester and regular programme communications.
A final individual summative written assignment will be set at the end of the course.
Employability skills
- Analytical skills
- Students will critically analyse latest frameworks, guidelines and best practice related to Infection Prevention and Control, and the challenges to implementation.
- Group/team working
- In this module, students will work together to apply and present the principles and practical skills of Infection Prevention and Control.
- Project management
- Students will be required to consider the development, planning, and implementation of appropriate responses to infection in healthcare settings.
Assessment methods
Assessment task | Length | Weighting within unit |
Midterm assignment | Group presentation (group mark) | 50% |
Final assignment | 2,000 words | 50% |
Feedback methods
Students will be provided with personalised feedback for their group presentation and final summative assignment, within 15 working days for the group presentation and 20 working days for final submission.
Further opportunities for formative feedback (on non-assessed work) will also be provided during a course unit.
Recommended reading
Weston, D (2013) Fundamentals of Infection Prevention and Control: Theory and Practice (2nd ed) John Wiley and Sons: Oxford (available as ebook).
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Practical classes & workshops | 30 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 120 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Helen Davidson | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
If you have any questions about the content of this unit, please contact the course unit leader Helen Davidson via email on helen.m.davidson@manchester.ac.uk. If you have any other queries, please contact the PGT programme administrators via email on mph.admin@manchester.ac.uk.