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Unit outline_

FMHU5000: Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare

Semester 2, 2024 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit provides students with an understanding of the individual and societal risks of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) wherever they occur, including community settings, and the rationale for, and barriers to, their prevention and control. The unit builds on a basic understanding of medical microbiology, epidemiology and infectious diseases and explores important contemporary concepts to the science and practice of infection prevention and control. The unit examines contemporary definitions of HAIs, their significance to individual, societal and population health, how they are transmitted and the science and practice of interrupt this transmission using infection prevention and control. Topics include the use of standard and transmission-based precautions, outbreak management and the challenges that are associated with antimicrobial resistance and the management of emerging and high-consequence infectious diseases.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Public Health
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
PUBH5421
Assumed knowledge
? 

Students are assumed to have a basic understanding of medical microbiology, epidemiology and common infectious diseases

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Ramon Shaban, ramon.shaban@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Catherine Viengkham, catherine.viengkham@sydney.edu.au
Cristina Sotomayor Castillo, cristina.sotomayor@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Creative assessment / demonstration hurdle task Hand Hygiene Competency
Individual student (self) audiovisual demonstration loaded into Canvas.
0% Week 05
Due date: 30 Aug 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 30 Aug 2024
30 minute demonstration presentation.
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4
Assignment Surveillance Activity
Written assessment
25% Week 08
Due date: 20 Sep 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 20 Sep 2024
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Outbreak investigation
Written assessment
25% Week 09
Due date: 27 Sep 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 27 Sep 2024
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Behaviour Change Intervention
Written assessment
35% Week 11
Due date: 18 Oct 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 18 Oct 2024
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Occupational Exposure Management
Group activity with self audiovisual presentation loaded into Canvas.
15% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 01 Nov 2024
30 - 60 minute presentation
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Assessment Grading  

The University awards common result grades, set out in the University Coursework Policy.

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

Late Penalty.

As per University of Sydney Assessment Procedures - Assessment Procedures 2011.

Academic Integrity

Students are permitted to use Studiosity only in the completion of all assessment tasks. No other artificial intelligence tools may be used in the completion of the assessment tasks. If students do use this tool, they must acknowledge use in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. Use of artificial intelligence tools without acknowledgement is considered a breach of academic integrity and will be reported. https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/academic-integrity.html  

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per the University of Sydney Assessment Procedures 2011

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Please select a valid week from the list below Students are invited and encouraged to participate in a weekly Drop-In E-tutorial where we review content explored during the week in online lectures, readings, quizzes and learning activities. Students who are unable to attend synchronously (in-person on-line) are invited to email questions or topics you would like explored in more details, which will be examined in the E-Tutorial.The E-Tutorials are recorded in Zoom and published on the unit's Canvas site for all students to access. Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 01 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1
Week 02 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Weekly synchronous on-line tutorial via Zoom to examine associated learning topic and Q&A for students. The session is recorded and posted to Canvas for students to who are unable to attend Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

This unit is delivered in on-line mode with modules across the teaching weeks of the semester.

Learning activities include asynchronous on-line lectures, directed readings, learning activities, assessments, and a synchronous weekly Zoom pop-in session.

The weekly Zoom pop-in sessions are timetables during teaching weeks of the semester.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

  1. Shaban, R. Z., Mitchell, B., Russo, P. & Macbeth, D., editors. (2023). Healthcare-associated infections in Australia: Principles and practices of infection prevention and control. 1st ed. Sydney: Elsevier.    Link:  https://shop.elsevier.com/books/healthcare-associated-infections-in-australia/shaban/978-0-7295-4364-4  (Available via Elsevier Clinical Key)
  1. Shaban, R. Z., Mitchell, B., Russo, P. & Macbeth, D., editors. (2023). Epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections in Australia: 1st ed. Sydney: Elsevier. Link: https://www.elsevierhealth.com.au/epidemiology-of-healthcare-associated-infections-in-australia-9780729543637.html  (Available via Elsevier Clinical Key)
  1. Shaban R Z, Li C, O'Sullivan M, Gerrard J, Stuart R, Teh J, Gilroy, N., Sorrell, T., White, E., Bag, S., Hackett, K., Chen, S., Kok, J., Dwyer, D., Iredell, J., Maddocks, S., Ferguson, P., Varshney, K., Carter, I., Barratt, R., Robertson, M., Baskar, S. R., Friend, C., Robosa, R., Sotomayor-Castillo, C,. Nahidi, S., Macbeth, D., Alcorn, K., Wattiaux, A., Moore, F., McMahon, J., Naughton, W., Korman, T., Catton, M., Kanapathipillai, R., Romanes, F., Rowe, E., Catford, J., Kennedy, B., Qiao, M., & Shaw, D. (2021). COVID-19 in Australia: Our national response to the first cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the early biocontainment phase. Internal Medicine Journal, 51, 42-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.15105
  1. Shaban, R. Z., Nahidi, S., Sotomayor-Castillo, C., Li, C., Gilroy, N., O'Sullivan, M. V. N., Sorrell, T. C., White, E., Hackett, K., & Bag, S. (2020). SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19: The lived experience and perceptions of patients in isolation and care in an Australian healthcare setting. American Journal of Infection Control, 48(12), 1445-1450. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.08.032 
  1. National Health and Medical Research Council. (2019). Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infection. Australian Commission ibn Safety and Quality in Healthcare; Sydney.
    Available free at:
    https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/australian-guidelines-prevention-and-control-infection-healthcare
  1. Basic Concepts of Infection Control (Version 2016). International Federation of Infection ControlAvailable free at:  https://www.theific.org/education/basic-concepts-book/

 

 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Define and describe contemporary healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and their associated risk factors.
  • LO2. Describe the principles of infection prevention and control, and explore major barriers to optimal implementation strategies to prevent and control healthcare-associated infections
  • LO3. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the major microbial causes of HAIs, including modes of transmission and organism-specific risk factors and preventive strategies.
  • LO4. Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of, and skills in, standard and transmission-based precautions and their use to prevent and control HAIs.
  • LO5. Design and critique protocols for the investigation into the causes and sources of HAI outbreaks and evaluate interventions designed to reduce the incidence of HAIs.
  • LO6. Critique factors contributing to the spread of communicable diseases and antimicrobial resistance in healthcare and effective contemporary strategies for prevention and containment.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This was run as a new unit in Sem 2, 2022 as a replacement for PUBH54521. It was very well received in 2022 and 2023. Some modifications to the module learning have been included in this version, including the adoption of new recommended readings and changes following the COVID-19 pandemic.

N/A

Additional costs

Nil

Site visit guidelines

Nil

Work, health and safety

N/A

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.