General and applied hygiene

Full Professor at the University of Rome "Foro Italico". Dean of the Faculty of Sport Sciences (2007-2010) – President of the Master’s Degree Course AMPA (2003-2013). Head of the Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biotechnology, Department of Sport, Human and Health Sciences (2002-present). He perfected his studies with the training objective of applying recent acquisitions in the field of cell biology and the tools of genetics and molecular biology to Public Health issues, with particular attention to the perspectives of prevention and the environment, and the context of health promotion through sport and motor activities. Prof. Romano-Spica perfected his studies working also in research centres abroad, at: the National Cancer Institute (National Institutes of Health, USA) (1991-1994); the National Institute of Hygiene, Budapest, Hungary (1990); the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA (1995); the Laboratory for Genomic Diversity, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA (1997) and the TSRI (2005). He was a member of the evaluation panel of the European Commission FP7 and, in the context of the 5th Framework Programme, he was a member of the Commission for the evaluation of research projects in the field of "Health and Environment". Member of the MIUR National Multicentric Group on Legionellosis. Member of the working group on risks from biological agents in the workplace of the National Committee for Biosafety and Biotechnology of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (2003). Member of the technical and scientific committee of the Caspur Consortium for Supercomputing and Research (2004-2007) and of the board of directors (2008-2013). Member of the SItI, Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health since 1990, within which he has held positions of coordination of the College of Teachers of Hygiene of the courses of study in Motor Sciences (2006-2010) and vice-presidency of SItI-Lazio (2009-2010); Coordinator of the Working Group SItI GSMS – Motor Sciences for Health (2008-2018). Associate Editor for several journals including Advances in Physical Activities, New Biotechnology, Water. Professor Vincenzo Romano Spica has presented scientific contributions at various national and international symposia and congresses and he is author of publications, patents, textbooks for university students of medicine and surgery, health professions, education sciences, motor sciences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he collaborated on documents for the safe management of sport, rehabilitation and thermal swimming pools, in collaboration with SItI, FoRST, ISS and on the organisation of the CME conference and international conference on the management of swimming, thermal and recreational water facilities at the time of COVID-19.

The course is organised in 2 modules:

⮚ Module 1 – Fundamentals of Hygiene and Public Health

The module will cover the following topics

• Elements of Hygiene and Epidemiology, in which the basics of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health will be defined; the Health-Disease continuum and the Multifactor Model (the determinants of health and disease, genetic risk factors, classification of environmental risk factors, Cross-sectional and behavioural risks; the network of risk factors); chronic degenerative diseases, infectious diseases, avoidable morbidity; epidemiological methodology and elements of demography and health statistics; main measures in epidemiology; observational and experimental epidemiology; the concept of risk and perceived risk.
• Elements of microbiology, in which the classification of microorganisms will be covered (with examples of viruses, bacteria, mycetes and protozoa in the sporting context); hints of immunology.
• The Natural History of Infectious Diseases; the epidemiological triangle; ways of disease transmission (Viral Hepatitis; Influenza; AIDS; Legionellosis; Tetanus; Malaria); indices of progression of infectious diseases.
• Health services on the territory, with some historical background, the Local Health Authorities and the Essential Levels of. In addition, the following topics will be addressed: the concept ofhealth by age group, at school and in sport, the microclimate, travel and relocation, comorbidity in the elderly, health in pregnancy and the TORCH complex.

⮚ Module 2 – Sport hygiene and prevention

The module will focus on the prevention of infectious diseases directed to the environment and to the person with specific reference to the sports environment (athlete’s foot; plantar wart; swimmer’s ear; Cryptosporidiosis; COVID-19). The methods and times of prevention, fundamental objectives and tools, aetiological-environmental, pathogenetic-clinical, rehabilitative-social prevention, vaccinations, screening and health education will be described. Regulatory references for the safety and quality of sports facilities; swimming pool and bathing water hygiene. Some in-depth studies will focus on the following topics: food and nutrition hygiene; the Erice Charter and preventive and adapted motor activities and elements of health promotion; guidelines for the hygiene of sports facilities for the prevention of COVID-19.

The course aims to acquire the fundamental foundations of Hygiene and to address issues related to prevention and safety in environments for the practice of motor and sport activities. In addition, the course will allow students to familiarise themselves and learn about the definitions and essential elements of prevention and Hygiene applied to sport and motor activities and acquire the essential vocabulary. At the end, students will have met the fundamental definitions to be able to orient themselves in the field of safety and healthiness of environments for sport and motor activities, in ordinary or extraordinary conditions such as those induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is advisable, in a preparatory way, to possess some bases of Anatomy, Physiology and Biology.

The course aims to provide students with the fundamental basics of Hygiene and to address issues related to prevention and safety in environments for the practice of motor and sport activities. Furthermore, the course will enable students to familiarise themselves with the definitions and essential elements of prevention and Hygiene applied to sport and motor activities and to acquire the essential vocabulary. At the end of the course, the students will have met the fundamental definitions to know how to orient themselves in the field of safety and healthiness of environments for sport and motor activities, in ordinary or extraordinary conditions such as those induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is advisable to have some basic knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology and Biology.

A. Knowledge and understanding

The course aims to teach mainly the basic principles of hygiene and to address issues related to prevention and safety in environments for the practice of motor and sport activities.

B. Applied knowledge and understanding

The course aims to provide a deeper understanding of the reality of sport and related activities through the topics addressed and orientation in the health and hygiene guidelines for motor and sport activities.

C. Autonomy of judgement

At the end of the course, students will be able to orient themselves in the field of safety and health of environments for sport and motor activities and to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these environments.

D. Communication skills

The course will enable students to familiarise themselves with the definitions and essential elements of prevention and hygiene applied to sport and motor activities and to acquire the essential vocabulary.

E. Learning ability

The student will be able to independently investigate and find useful sources to study the main issues covered in the course.

EXPECTED RESULTS

A. Use of original sources, regulations, articles and advanced textbooks, knowledge of some cutting-edge topics within the subject studied, with particular attention to the contemporary context and the issues induced by the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

B. Professional approach to work and possession of enhanced skills in situations requiring notions of prevention and safety in motor and sport activity environments.

C. Ability to collect and interpret data useful for making independent judgments in the context of articles and research on topics studied.

D. Ability to communicate basic information, ideas, problems and solutions in the design of interventions in sport, including in health education and health promotion contexts.

E. Ability to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy, having general basic knowledge of the subject.

DIDACTICS PROVISION

⮚ 16 video lessons.
⮚ Podcasts of all the above-mentioned video lessons.

INTERACTIVE DIDACTICS

⮚ 1 orientation forum;
⮚ 2 thematic follow-up forums (1 for each module);
⮚ 2 structured e-activities (as described in the section “in itinere assessment methods”);
⮚ 2 synchronous interactive meetings with students (e.g. question time, student reception, review of individual assignments, etc.);
⮚ possibility to carry out work in groups.

SELF-LEARNING

Teaching materials are provided for each module: in-depth thematic studies, lecturer’s articles, open access readings, online resources, reference bibliography, etc.

⮚ Brandi G., Liguori G., Romano Spica V. Igiene e sanità pubblica per scienze motorie, Delfino Editore. 2009 ISBN: 8872874041

Insights:

⮚ The Charter of Erice; Ann Ig 2015; 27: 406-414 doi: 10.7416/ai.2015.2018 http://www.seuroma.it/riviste/annali_igiene/apps/autos.php?id=971

⮚ Agreement between the Minister of Health, the regions and the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano on the hygienic-sanitary aspects for the construction, maintenance and supervision of swimming pools for natatorial use. (OJ General Series n.51 of 03-03-2003)
http://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2003/03/03/03A02358/sg

⮚ Reports ISS COVID-19 n. 37/2020 – Instructions for swimming pools, of the Agreement 16/1/2003 between the Minister of Health, the regions and the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano, in relation to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus. (Version 31 May 2020 or later): https://www.iss.it/documents/20126/0/Rapporto+ISS+COVID-19+37_2020.pdf/6eea6965-b541-d9a7- 6f2ece1a74701f1a?t=1591275430045

⮚ GSMS-SItI guidelines: GSMS document on Swimming pools in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic http://www.sitinazionale.org/bds/images/docs/gsms/lineeguida/2020/060
4piscine.pdf

⮚ For further updates the GSMS-SItI database: www.sitinazionale.org/bds/

Access to the final examination is subject to the completion of the e- activities that will be communicated during the semester by the lecturer and the disciplinary tutor.

The assessment of learning will take place through an oral interview on the course contents (at least three). The grade (min 18, max 30 with possible honours) is determined by the level of performance for each of the following dimensions of the oral interview: mastery of contents, appropriateness of definitions and theoretical references, clarity of argument, command of specialist language. Oral interview.

Italian