Dental School

Activity type

Diagnostica di laboratorio

SSD

MED/07

Year

N/D

Semester

N/D

CFU

3

Hours distribution

36 classroom hours

Lecturers

MARIA PIA CONTE

Activity type

Diagnostica di laboratorio

SSD

MED/07

Year

N/D

Semester

N/D

CFU

4

Hours distribution

48 classroom hours

Lecturers

Activity type

Formazione interdisciplinare

SSD

MED/42

Year

N/D

Semester

N/D

CFU

3

Hours distribution

36 classroom hours

Lecturers

STEFANO PETTI

Activity type

Formazione interdisciplinare

SSD

MED/42

Year

N/D

Semester

N/D

CFU

3

Hours distribution

36 classroom hours

Lecturers

Upon completion of the course the student must have in-depth knowledge of the morphological and physiological characteristics of pathogenic and commensal microorganisms; on the cellular and molecular bases of microbial pathogenicity; on microorganism-host interactions and on innate and acquired host resistance to infections. In addition, the student must know the microbial diseases of the oral cavity and the mechanisms of cellular response and inflammation in relation to them. In particular, the course aims to provide the student with the cognitive and methodological tools necessary to relate the peculiar characteristics of microorganisms with the beginning and evolution of infection diseases; apply the knowledge of the biology of microorganisms to the choice of drugs for the therapy of microbial diseases, and to the choice of the prevention methods.
At the end of this course students must know classification and structure of micro-organisms, microscopy methods, infectious disease epidemiology and prevention, with the chains of food-borne, water-borne, air-borne, blood-borne, and vector-borne infections.
At the end of this course students must be able to observe micro-organisms through microscope, and to distinguish between the various routes of infectious disease transmission.

Students who have completed the Microbiology and Hygiene Courses and passed the tests will be able to understand the relationship between the main microorganisms and the infectious diseases and the infections. In general, they will be able to apply their acquired knowledge to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the main oral and infectious diseases, which, as we know, are one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. They will also be able to completely approach oral and infectious diseases autonomously, without passively depending on the Guidelines. Thanks to the knowledge acquired, they will have the necessary communication skills to explain and discuss the aforementioned topics with patients, their tutors, staff, and colleagues.

Despite the complexity of the concepts exposed by Professors Petti and Conte, a communicative language will be used (proven by the positive feedback from anonymous student reviews via OPIS, which makes this Integrated Course one of the best in Dentistry) and debates and questions from students will be encouraged, thus making the only prerequisite the knowledge of the Italian language. Namely, speaking, reading, and listening.

Microbiology I SEMESTER (Prof. Conte)
General bacteriology: general: topics regarding the structure, morphology, phenotype, and taxonomy of pathogenic microorganisms will be covered, to deepen the cellular and molecular bases of microbial pathogenicity; microorganism-host interactions, innate and acquired resistance of the host to infections. To this end, the program will cover the following topics: 1.Introduction to medical microbiology, 2.Classification, structure, and replication of bacteria, 3.Metabolism and genetics of bacteria, 4.Classification, structure, and replication of viruses, 5.Classification, structure, and replication of fungi, 6.Commensal and pathogenic microbial flora in humans, 7.Protective responses of the host, 8.Humoral immunity, 9.Cellular immunity, 10.Vaccines, 11.Mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, Biofilm; 12.Antibacterial drugs.


Hygiene I SEMESTER (Prof. Petti)
Introduction to Hygiene
Health and the History of Hygiene and Hygiene in Dentistry
General Characteristics of Infectious Diseases
Epidemiology and Prevention of Infectious Diseases
The Epidemiological Chain of Infectious Diseases
Fecal-Oral Infectious Diseases/Foodborne-Waterborne Infections
Air-borne Infections
Blood-borne Infections


Microbiology II SEMESTER (Prof. Conte)
Special bacteriology: Gram-positive cocci (Streptococci, and related genera); Staphylococci of medical interest; Aerobic non-spore-forming gram-positive bacilli: Corynebacterium and Listeria; Gram-positive spore-producing bacilli: Bacillus and Clostridium; Enteric gram-negative bacilli (Enterobacteriaceae), Legionella; Vibrio, Campylobacter; Helicobacter; Haemophilus, Bordetella and Brucella; Neisseria: Mycobacteria; Chlamydia spp.
Special virology: Coronavirus; Orthomyxovirus (flu virus); Human herpes viruses, Papillomavirus; Hepatitis virus; Retrovirus.
Microbiology of the oral cavity: Oral ecosystem; Oral Microbiota; Dysbiotic oral microbiota and diseases (caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, peri-implantitis); Main microbial groups involved.
Upon completion of the course, students will possess the cognitive and methodological tools necessary to relate the specific characteristics of microorganisms to the onset and progression of infectious diseases, with particular attention to microbial pathologies of the oral cavity and the mechanisms of cellular response and inflammation.


Hygiene II SEMESTER (Prof. Petti)
Relevant infectious diseases in Dentistry: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis delta, AIDS, COVID-19, tuberculosis, influenza, meningitis, chickenpox, mumps, measles, rubella, and methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA) infection. Infectious diseases caused by emerging pathogens may be considered if they are of interest to Dentistry or have an epidemic/pandemic nature.

Microbiology I and II SEMESTERS (Prof. Conte)
To prepare for the exam, studying the theory from the beginning of the Microbiology Course is recommended.
For consultation and further study:
Conte MP, Berlutti F. Microbiologia Medica e Microbiologia del Cavo Orale. Esculapio Editore.


Hygiene I and II SEMESTERS (Prof. Petti)
All topics necessary for learning the “Hygiene” topics will be covered personally by the professors during the lectures. Therefore, the notes taken by the students during lectures and discussions are sufficient to construct a personal textbook on the subject.

Further readings (not mandatory to pass the exam):
Downloadable from the internet:
Quaderni della Salute” del Ministero della Salute (gratis all’indirizzo: http://www.quadernidellasalute.it/archivio-quaderni/7-gennaio-febbraio-2011.php) pagine 35-48.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care" (gratis all'indirizzo: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care2.pdf).
Textbooks:
Montagna MT, Castiglia P, Liguori P, Quarto M. Igiene in Odontoiatria. Monduzzi Editore
Miller CH, Palenik CJ. Infection Control & Management of Hazardous Materials for the Dental Team. Elsevier Mosby Editore



NOTE: In the event of discrepancies between what is explained during the lectures by the professors and what is reported in one of the aforementioned texts, the concepts explained during the lectures take the priority, as they are more up-to-date than the publications.

Conte MP, Berlutti F. Microbiologia Medica e Microbiologia del Cavo Orale. Esculapio Editore.
Quaderni della Salute” del Ministero della Salute (gratis all’indirizzo: http://www.quadernidellasalute.it/archivio-quaderni/7-gennaio-febbraio-2011.php) pagine 35-48.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care" (gratis all'indirizzo: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/pdf/safe-care2.pdf).
Montagna MT, Castiglia P, Liguori P, Quarto M. Igiene in Odontoiatria. Monduzzi Editore
Miller CH, Palenik CJ. Infection Control & Management of Hazardous Materials for the Dental Team. Elsevier Mosby Editore

All the lectures will be given live and synchronous, as the priorities of the Integrated Course are understanding, awareness, and creative thinking. Therefore, only live lessons can foster questions, reflections, and debates on the topics covered in class.

Traditional lectures are therefore given for both courses, including synchronous distance learning extended to all students, if necessary. Distance learning is often requested by students via the anonymous OPIS questionnaire. It is particularly essential in objectively problematic situations, such as those caused by, for example, lockdowns, general and transport strikes, demonstrations that prevent access to the lecture halls, adverse weather conditions, or travel issues such as railway line closures for works.

All lectures are given personally by the designated professors; this is essential to ensuring the establishment of an ideal student-professor relationship.

Attending the lessons of the taught Courses is a fundamental element of Article 34 of the Constitution of the Italian Republic that warrants the access to education for all.

Attending the lessons is not, therefore, an obligation, but rather a demonstration of student maturity, and a right, as well as an opportunity to ask questions, reflect, becoming aware, and engaging with professors and colleagues on the taught topics.

The Microbiology and Hygiene tests are written and/or oral.

For the discipline Microbiology, ongoing tests are provided to assess the student's knowledge of the concepts required for understanding subsequent taught topics. For the Hygiene discipline, a single final- test is provided, consisting of open-ended questions on topics covered and discussed during the various lectures.

The assessment is not based on memorization and accuracy of answers —notional concepts that prevent long-term recall of key topics— but on the student's ability to plan, develop, and implement behavioural patterns in their daily life and practice, aimed at the awareness and the prevention of oral and systemic diseases caused by microorganisms.

The scores for the individual tests are, therefore, not standardisable but require careful evaluation by the professors. The final score for the Integrated Course "Microbiology and Hygiene" will be the average of the scores obtained in the Microbiology and Hygiene tests.

For students exempted from one of the two subjects, the final score of the Integrated Course will be equal to the score of the exam relating to the remaining subject.

The Integrated Course in "Microbiology and Hygiene" aims to develop students' knowledge of the world of microorganisms and to train and instruct them to adopt virtuous behaviours in everyday life and practice.

Therefore, the annoying notionalism, that includes the mere memorization and repetition of the taught concepts, which negatively impacts long-term memory and creative ability, will be minimized.

Therefore, for each exam and for both subjects, the questions correspond to the topics covered and discussed in class, or, in rare occasions, are clearly indicated by the instructors in any materials provided.

• In the first semester, the foundation will be laid for
  tackling the topics covered in the second semester having the necessary awareness.
  Furthermore, these lessons are not merely introductory for the second semester,
  but are an essential tool for broadening the students’ knowledge and providing
  them with a thorough understanding of the world of microorganisms and their
  effects. The Microbiology and Hygiene Courses will therefore proceed in
  parallel and independently in this first part.
  • Books: Individual notes taken by students, who actively participate
    
    during the given lectures with questions and discussions, are the highest and
    
    most important form of text available, and only the University, with its
    
    synchronous courses, can offer them.
    
    
    
     
    
    
    
    The notes are tailored to the student's needs and are
    
    essential for effectively practicing Dentistry and living the social life
    
    without fears.


• In the second semester, more specific topics regarding
  microorganisms and infections will be addressed, topics of greatest interest in
  Dentistry in their daily practice and for their more aware and safe social
  life, free from unfounded fears and concerns. The Microbiology and Hygiene
  lessons, although proceeding in parallel in this second part, will complement
  each other by merging the elements of Microbiology with the elements of
  Epidemiology and Infection Prevention.
  • Books: Individual notes taken by students, who actively participate
    
    during the given lectures with questions and discussions, are the highest and
    
    most important form of text available, and only the University, with its
    
    synchronous courses, can offer them.
    
    
    
     
    
    
    
    The notes are tailored to the student's needs and are
    
    essential for effectively practicing Dentistry and living the social life
    
    without fears.


• The Microbiology and Hygiene lectures are given from October
  to May in blocks lasting more than an hour. The goal is to fully explain each
  topic in a single lesson.
  • Books: N/A