Health Protection Resources and Information for Education Settings

This page will allow all education settings to access health protection information and download resources suitable for teaching infection prevention.

This is the latest Government guidance for staff on managing cases of infectious diseases in education and childcare settings;

You can also access e-Bug resources - e-Bug is operated by the UK Health Security Agency. The programme aims to promote positive behaviour change among children and young people to support infection prevention and control efforts to respond to the global threat of antimicrobial resistance. The resources help educate children and young people and ensure they are able to play their role in preventing infection outbreaks and using antimicrobials appropriately.

UKHSA Infection Protection and Winter Readiness and Control Toolkit for Early Years and Education Settings - South -West Councils (swcouncils.gov.uk)

UKHSA Infection Prevention and Control and Winter Readiness Toolkit for Early Years and Education Settings

Welcome to the Early Years and Education Settings Winter Readiness site, from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) – South-West Health Protection Team.

The toolkit is designed to help early years and education settings with planning and preparation for winter infections and outbreaks, and in outbreak investigation and management.

The resources are quick-reference documents, designed to be used as needed for your setting.

The toolkit complements the national guidance documents on the Gov.uk website for respiratory infections, influenza and viral gastroenteritis.

In addition, there are a wealth of other resources and links on the web sites of the various professional health and social care organisations.

As part of WAAW we wanted to highlight the various ways we can support this programme and promote within our work areas and with stakeholders including Education colleagues.

Antimicrobials

This week provides an opportunity to review current practice and ask whether we are handling Antimicrobials with appropriate care. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact healthprotection@swindon.gov.uk , 

World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 18-24 November 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to modern healthcare. Infection prevention is key as preventing and controlling infections will lead to fewer antimicrobial drugs being used, meaning less risk of bacteria developing resistance.

What are antimicrobials?

Antimicrobials – including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitic – are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants.

What is antimicrobial resistance?

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and recent outbreaks have highlighted, management of viral infection remains an important challenge and can have an adverse impact on the use of antibiotics. Now, more than ever we need to continue to work together to prevent serious infections – including COVID-19 – while reducing inappropriate antibiotic use.

 How you can help

  • Preventing infection through good hygiene – When eating or preparing food, washing hands and keeping food preparation areas clean can help prevents infections
  • Encourage people to get vaccinated against preventable illnesses like flu and measles
  • Before taking an antibiotic, talk to a qualified health professional about when antibiotics should be used, how to take them correctly, and the importance of not hoarding or sharing them
  • Old medicines should be taken back to the pharmacy, not thrown away in general waste or flushed down the toilet, otherwise these can pollute the environment
  • Handle antibiotics with care and complete a prescribed course

Suggested actions to consider for World Antimicrobials Awareness Week (WAAW) in your setting

This short YouTube animation from Heath Education England provides a good summary https://youtu.be/oMnU6g2djm4,