Causes of Human Disease: Transmitting and Fighting Infection

Discover how infection spreads.

Most of us have experienced common diseases like flu or less common ones like pneumonia. On this course, you’ll learn how pathogens cause infectious diseases and how these diseases are transmitted. You’ll examine the bacterial resistance to antibiotics, how this leads to serious infections like MRSA and reflect on approaches to address this problem. You’ll learn how the body’s immune system fights off disease and how resistance is gained. You’ll apply this knowledge to explore why immunisation has been crucial in reducing the occurrence of disease or even eradicating deadly diseases.

The course is suitable for anyone with a general interest in the science behind causes of human disease. No previous knowledge or experience is required. If you are working in nursing, healthcare or social care, or just wish to learn more, this course is designed to support you as a professional. By completing all aspects of the course you will have achieved 14 hours of CPD time.

• Infectious diseases
• Welcome
• What causes infectious diseases?
• Transmission of disease
• Antibiotics
• Revision
• Summary
• The immune system
• About Week 2
• Fighting infection: the innate immune response
• Fighting infection: the adaptive immune response
• Immunisation
• Revision
• Summary