Where: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana

How: In person at Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana

Aim: To acquire knowledge and skills in the field of surface hygiene in hygienically risky environments such as hospitals, food and pharmaceutical industries, water supply and laundries.

Goal: The student understands the important conditions that influence the management of surface hygiene; can distinguish between specific conditions that apply to hygienically risky environments such as hospitals, industry, drinking water supply and laundries; is able to analyse an antimicrobial substance, understands its effect and evaluate its use in hygienically risky environments.

Lectures: Theoretical principles of bacterial adherence to surfaces and factors regulating this process. Laboratory and field methods for evaluating surface hygiene, covering both simple and complex approaches. Hygiene in the hospital environment with a focus on hygiene conditions and work organisation. Hygiene in industry and drinking water supply facilities with a focus on legionella control. Mastering hygiene in laundries and launderettes with a focus on the properties of textiles and washing techniques. Physical, chemical and biological methods to control surface hygiene and compliance with regulations.

Laboratory work: The student selects an antimicrobial substance from the set and analyses its antimicrobial effect on several hygienically relevant bacterial strains. The student evaluates the effectiveness of the selected antimicrobial substance in controlling the hygiene of surfaces and investigates the mechanisms of action of the antimicrobial substance on bacteria.

Seminars: The student presents the results of the evaluation of the effectiveness of the selected antimicrobial substance. The student group discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each antimicrobial substance and draws a conclusion regarding the applicability of each method.

Contact: Rok Fink

Where: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana

How: In person at Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana

Aim: to provide students with the opportunity to combine their study and research interests with an international team of experts in the field of environmental chemistry and toxicology. The main topics covered are chemicals, their transformations, degradation processes and toxicity. The course will be organized in the form of intensive lectures together with laboratory practice.

Goal: to equip participants with essential knowledge and practical skills for safely managing hazardous substances while understanding their health, environmental, and regulatory implications. It also aims to promote responsible decision making and encourage the use of safer alternatives and preventive approaches in research, industry, and society.

Lectures – Key topics (total of 30 hours): Terminology and physicochemical properties of hazardous substances; Environmental pollutants (pesticides, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, nanoparticles, microplastics); Indoor pollutants; Analytical methods for detecting hazardous substances in the environment; Hazardous substances as waste; Health aspects of environmental pollution

Laboratory work: within 15 hours of laboratory exercises we perform the following exercises: Determination of the presence of cyanide ions in tobacco smoke; Determination of emulsifiers in food and residues of dishwashing detergent in water; and Determination of aluminum ions in deodorants

Contact: Polonca Trebše