Školiace miesto medzinárodného kurzu v aplikovanej epidemiológii – EPIET, ECDC Fellowship Programme
Contact person and details:
Prof. Alexandra Bražinová, MD, PhD, MPH
Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava
Špitálska 24, 81372 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
(+42) 1918641974
Description of the consortium
The training site is a consortium consisting of four institutions:
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava (IEFMCU)
- Department of Hospital Hygiene and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bratislava (DHHE)
- Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (PHASR)
- Regional Public Health Authority in Bratislava (RPHA-Ba)
Description of each institution:
Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava (IEFMCU)
Institute of Epidemiology provides education and training in the subject of Epidemiology in the 5th year of the general medicine and dentistry programs, Faculty of medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, in Slovak and English.
The subject content includes methods used in epidemiology, epidemiological studies, clinical epidemiology, the use of epidemiological surveillance for evidence-based medicine, the importance of vaccination in disease prevention, field epidemiology and the management of community epidemics, the epidemiological situation of infectious and non-communicable diseases in Slovakia and in the world, and the global burden of disease. The aim of teaching the subject of Epidemiology is to provide students with the knowledge and skills that will give them an overview of the occurrence of diseases or health conditions and the possibilities of their prevention, facilitate the search for information, enable them to study scientific literature with understanding and actively participate in research.
In its research activities, the institute focuses on the study of the epidemiology of selected diseases. Among infectious diseases, we are responsible for surveillance of legionellosis, leptospirosis, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. The diagnostics of legionellosis by direct and indirect tests as well as the identification and subtyping of Legionella in biological samples is unique for the whole of Slovakia. Two staff members serve as National Focal Points for ECDC – one is responsible for HIV (head of Institute), one for Legionella infections. In the field of non-communicable diseases, the institute's staff focuses on the epidemiology of mental health and mental disorders, cancer, risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
The scientific and research activities of the institute are linked with practice in the creation of proposals for measures in cooperation with clinical workplaces, regional public health authorities, scientific institutions (SAS), other faculties and state institutions.
Department of Hospital Hygiene and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bratislava (DHHE)
University Hospital Bratislava (UHB) is a teaching hospital and it is comprised of 5 hospitals in different residential part of the city (Ružinov, Kramáre, Petržalka, Old Town, Podunajské Biskupice). UHB has one Department of Hospital Hygiene and Epidemiology that is responsible for infection prevention and control throughout the University hospital.
Main Activities:
- Preventive and interventional hygiene and epidemiological activities
- Monitoring of activities in the healthcare facility
- Providing proposals for measures and arguments for the decision-making process of the management
- Advisory body to the Board of Directors
Specific Tasks:
- Providing methodological guidance to the workplaces of the hospital in the field of hygiene and epidemiological measuresAdvisory role in the development of operating regulations
- Coordination of the program for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections and monitoring of quality indicators related to HAI
- Cooperation in ensuring critical control points and applying decontamination procedures in accordance with applicable legislation and the latest knowledge
- Development of internal guidelines and methodological instructions within the framework of hygiene and epidemiological proceduresComprehensive management and coordination of cleaning activities
Additional Information:
The Department of Hospital Hygiene and Epidemiology is an important part of the University Hospital Bratislava. It plays a vital role in preventing and controlling infections within the hospital setting. The department's activities are essential to ensuring the safety of patients, staff, and visitors.
Head of the DHHE is National ECDC focal point for training.
Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (PHASR)
The Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (PHA) is the main public health research institute and the reference centre for the national network of sanitary epidemiological service.
The PHA is a state budgetary organization with the financial relations to the budget of the Ministry of Health. The organisation is managed by the Chief Public Health Officer, who is appointed by the Minister of Health. The PHA, based in Bratislava, manages and coordinates a network of 36 regional public health authorities.
It coordinates activities of health promotion and protection in various fields of personal, organizational and environmental hygiene and epidemiology.
Regional Public Health Authority in Bratislava (RPHA-Ba)
Regional Public Health Authority in Bratislava implements activities of health promotion and protection in various fields of personal, organizational and environmental hygiene and epidemiology.
The Department of Epidemiology of RPHA-Ba is responsible for the analysis of disease occurrence and population health, the interrelationships between humans and the environment, with an emphasis on identifying factors that increase the risk of disease. It studies the relationships between humans and the environment, primarily with a view to preventing the mass occurrence of diseases.
Task Description:
- Monitoring the occurrence of infectious diseases and analysis of the epidemiological situation
- Conducting surveillance of selected communicable diseases
- Planning, development, organization, management and coordination of repressive anti-epidemic measures and participation in their implementation in outbreaks
- Monitoring and control of the effectiveness of preventive and repressive anti-epidemic measures
- Assessment of the immune status of the population based on vaccination controls or immunological surveys
- Performance of state health supervision in healthcare facilities
- Carrying out expert activities in the establishment of healthcare facilities, assessment of operating regulations
- Surveillance and analysis of the occurrence of nosocomial infections.
Training opportunities
Institutes participating in training site consortium provide the following training opportunities:
- Research in the areas: distribution of diseases and determinants, risk factors identification, evaluation of effectiveness of interventions, identification of trends and patterns of diseases
- Disease surveillance: data collection, description and analysis.
- Outbreak investigation and implementation of control measures
- Communication of findings to policymakers and stakeholders, as well as to the public
- Development of evidence-based recommendations
- Evaluation of the impact of health policies and programs
Training supervision
Prof. Alexandra Bražinová, MD, PhD, MPH – EPIET alumna, Cohort 2018 (MS track) (head of Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava
Andrea Kološová, MD, PhD - EPIET alumna, Cohort 2011 (MS track) (head of Department of Hospital Hygiene and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bratislava)
Language requirements
Slovak, English
Training history
Institutes participating in the training site consortium currently provide the following training:
Training of physicians in selected specialization courses (such as general practice, public health, epidemiology)
Training of pregraduate medical students and postgraduate medical doctoral candidates in epidemiological skills and methods – in Slovak and English