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Transmitting and Fighting Infectious Diseases

Andrew Kirby

Understanding how pathogens cause infections and how infectious diseases are transmitted is crucial for preventing and controlling the spread of illnesses.

In this course, you will learn how diseases like the common flu spread, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, the body's defence mechanisms, and the importance of immunization.

You will understand what pathogens like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites are and discover how antibiotics work. You will then explore what causes resistance to antibiotics, a significant and growing problem worldwide, as it can make the treatment of bacterial infections more challenging and, in some cases, ineffective.

The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs working together to defend the body against harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens. The course will help you understand the immune system's main components and how the innate and adaptive immune responses fight invading pathogens. You will explore immunisation and how it triggers the immune system to remember pathogens.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Infectious diseases

Welcome to the Transmitting and Fighting Infectious Diseases course. This course explores infectious diseases, how they are transmitted and how they can be treated.

The immune system

This week you will explore how the human body fights infections and how immunisation has reduced the occurrence of common infectious diseases.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores infectious diseases, which are highly relevant to the medical field

Taught by Andrew Kirby, a recognized expert in infectious diseases

Teaches fundamental concepts like the immune system and immunization, which are core skills for healthcare professionals

Covers a broad range of topics, including the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance and the importance of immunization

Part of a series of other courses, indicating a comprehensive study of infectious diseases

Assumes no prior knowledge, making it accessible to students new to the subject

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Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Transmitting and Fighting Infectious Diseases. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Transmitting and Fighting Infectious Diseases will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Health Educator

Health educators teach people about health and disease prevention. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in teaching about infectious diseases to the public. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for health educators to understand the scientific basis of infectious diseases and to teach the public about them in a clear and engaging way.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate patterns and causes of disease and other health problems in populations. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in understanding how infectious diseases are transmitted and how they can be controlled. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for epidemiologists to understand the spread of infectious diseases and to develop effective strategies to prevent and control them.

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Immunologist

Immunologists study the immune system, which is the body's defense system against infection. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in understanding how the immune system works and how it can be manipulated to fight infectious diseases. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for immunologists to develop new treatments for infectious diseases.

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Virologist

Virologists study viruses, which are the smallest and simplest type of infectious agent. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in understanding how viruses cause disease and how they can be treated. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for virologists to understand the biology of viruses and to develop new treatments for viral infections.

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Public Health Nurse

Public health nurses work to prevent and control the spread of disease in communities. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in learning about the role of public health in preventing and controlling infectious diseases. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for public health nurses to develop and implement effective public health interventions.

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Infectious Disease Physician

Infectious disease physicians diagnose and treat patients with infectious diseases. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in learning about the latest advances in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for infectious disease physicians to provide the best possible care for their patients.

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Science Teacher

Science teachers teach science to students in primary and secondary schools. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in teaching about infectious diseases to students. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for science teachers to understand the scientific basis of infectious diseases and to teach students about them in a clear and engaging way.

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Microbiologist

Microbiologists study microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in understanding how infectious diseases are caused and how they can be treated. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for microbiologists to understand the biology of infectious diseases and to develop new treatments for them.

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Medical Writer

Medical writers write about medical topics for a variety of audiences, including patients, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in learning about the medical writing process and how it can be used to communicate information about infectious diseases to the public. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for medical writers to understand the scientific basis of the topics they are writing about and to communicate information about infectious diseases clearly and准确ly.

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Clinical Research Associate

Clinical research associates work with doctors and other healthcare professionals to design and conduct clinical trials of new drugs and treatments for infectious diseases. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in learning about the process of clinical research and how it can be used to develop new treatments for infectious diseases. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for clinical research associates to understand the scientific basis of clinical trials and to work effectively with doctors and other healthcare professionals.

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Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Pharmaceutical sales representatives sell drugs and other medical products to doctors and other healthcare professionals. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in learning about the pharmaceutical industry and how it can be used to develop new treatments for infectious diseases. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for pharmaceutical sales representatives to understand the scientific basis of the products they are selling and to work effectively with doctors and other healthcare professionals.

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Science Writer

Science writers write about science for a variety of audiences, including the general public, scientists, and policymakers. This course would be particularly useful for those interested in writing about infectious diseases for the public. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge would be essential for science writers to understand the scientific basis of infectious diseases and to communicate information about them to the public in a clear and engaging way.

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Policy Analyst

Policy analysts research and analyze public policy issues. This course may be useful for those interested in analyzing public policy related to infectious diseases. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge may be helpful for policy analysts to understand the scientific basis of infectious diseases and to develop effective public policy.

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Biostatistician

Biostatisticians use statistical methods to solve problems in biology and medicine. This course may be useful for those interested in using statistical methods to study infectious diseases. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge may be helpful for biostatisticians to understand the scientific basis of infectious diseases and to develop effective statistical methods for studying them.

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Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare consultants advise healthcare organizations on how to improve their operations. This course may be useful for those interested in consulting on infectious disease prevention and control. The course covers topics such as the immune system, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, and the importance of immunization. This knowledge may be helpful for healthcare consultants to understand the scientific basis of infectious diseases and to develop effective consulting strategies.

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Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Transmitting and Fighting Infectious Diseases.

Medical Microbiology