e-Bug

e-bug logoe-Bug is a DGSANCO funded European wide education resource that aims to improve young people’s understanding of the importance of hygiene and proper antibiotic use.There are separate packs for primary and secondary schools which are obtainable at no cost to schools in each partner country.

 

Additionally, there is a partner website that offers every part of the packs in Microsoft Word format as well as extending the resource by including additional materials including animations, clip art and a suite of educational games to emphasise the learning outcomes of each lesson of the packs.

Aims & Objectives

Antibiotic resistance is one of the key problems facing communities and hospitals in Europe. This could be tackled by prudent antibiotic use through improved professional and public education. There are extensive campaigns aimed at health professionals but there is little aimed at the general adult public and almost nothing aimed at school aged children. By targeting e-Bug at school aged youths, we aim to achieve two goals:

  • to reduce cross infection within schools (thus reducing the legitimate need for antibiotics)
  • to improve the prudent use of antibiotics by young people after they leave school (thus reducing inappropriate use)

Target Audience

There are two versions of the resource being created. By aligning the content of lessons closely to school curricula, we hope to create a resource that is suitable and attractive to each partner country:

  • The Junior Pack is aimed at primary school pupils aged between 9 and 12.
  • The Senior Pack is aimed at secondary school pupils aged between 13 and 15.

Duration

After evaluating the resource for a full year in schools, the necessary changes are being made before the final resource is launched for all associate partner countries at the end of 2009.

Staff

There are 18 European countries involved in e-Bug. Full details of staff working on the project in each country can be found on the main e-Bug site. The development team is based in the United Kingdom and involves staff from the Health Protection Agency (HPA), based in Gloucester and the City eHealth Research Centre (CeRC) at City University, London. CeRC staff contributing to the project are: