Designing, piloting and evaluating (through a matched pre- and post-implementation survey) a targeted e-learning resource on antimicrobial resistance for public health professionals.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global public health threat and key priority for the public health, especially health protection, workforce to lead by example. There is a paucity of learning resources on this for public health professionals (PHPs) in the UK. This project aimed to develop and disseminate a tailored interactive learning resource and evaluate impact on self-reported intention to change behaviour.

An outbreak of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a burns service in the North of England: challenges of infection prevention and control in a complex setting.

Background: Burns patients are at high risk of nosocomial infection, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common causes of wound and systemic infections resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in burns patients.

Aim: To describe an outbreak of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa (MDR-Pa) at a specialist burns service and highlight the challenges in identifying the reservoir of infection despite extensive epidemiological, microbiological, and environmental investigations.

How timely closure can reduce outbreak duration: gastroenteritis in care homes in North West England, 2012-2016.

Background: Data on outbreaks of infectious gastroenteritis in care homes have been collected using an internet-based surveillance system in North West England since 2012. We analysed the burden and characteristics of care home outbreaks to inform future public health decision-making.

Methods: We described characteristics of care homes and summary measures of the outbreaks such as attack rate, duration and pathogen identified.

An ongoing large outbreak of measles in Merseyside, England, January to June 2012.

From 1 January to 30 June 2012, 359 confirmed and 157 probable cases of measles were reported in Merseyside, England. The most affected age groups were children under five years and young adults from 15 years of age. Most cases have been sporadic.