This document provides an overview of a lesson plan about microbes as hazards in health and social care settings. The lesson aims to help learners understand potential hazards, including infections. It includes several activities like a presentation on microbes, a handwashing practical demonstration, and a review quiz. Examples of illnesses linked to microbe spread that could affect patients include MRSA, C. difficile, and those preventing wound healing or recovery. The document emphasizes the importance of preventing microbe transmission through practices like proper hand hygiene and disinfection.

1. Introduction
Unit 3: Health and Social Care & Security
- Blaine Robin PhD
8th September 2015

2. “Microbes” as Hazards within Health and
Social Care
Lesson Name Duration (mins.) Teaching Methods Evidence Gathering
Aim: Understand potential
hazards in health and social
care
1. Hazards: relating to the
physical environment,
equipment, infections,
substances, working
conditions, working practices,
security systems
30minutes - Theory
including Introduction to unit 3
30 minutes
Self directed learning
30 minutes
Practical: Effective Handwashing
30 minutes
Review
- Power point presentations
- Encourage learners to use You
Tube to learn about topic (e.g.
Microbes (reference and access
the url address)
- Using art (i.e. flip charts and
markers etc. to draw relevant
images (e.g. of “cells” and
“microbes”)
- Practical demonstrations
- Develop theoretical & policy
writing methodology
- Handwashing
assessment (Practical)
- Multiple choice quiz
(Review)
- Reflective
practice/policy writing
activity On
introduction of
Microbes on MRSA
and Clostridium
Diffucili (Homework)

3. “Microbes” as Hazards within Health and
Social Care

4. Introduction - What are Microbes?
• Microbes are small (non visible to the naked eye) living creatures that
we call germs, moulds, yeasts and algae.
• They are also known as viruses, bacteria, lower fungi and algae
‘ [I]n every gram of fertile soil there exists about 100 million living
bacteria’ (Postgate 2000 p 3).
Some germs are good for us (e.g. yeast used to make bread and
alcohol). In health and social care settings many are bad for human
beings and can lead to illness and ultimately death.

5. Examples of Illnesses linked to the spread of
microbes
• The common cold
• Influenza
• Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
• Clostridium Difficile (Cdiff +ve)
• Microbes can be responsible for inhibiting the healing process after a
hospital operation for example or preventing a person from
effectively fighting to staff alive after an infection. Minimizing the
spread of microbes (hazard) is therefore a high priority within the
NHS and Social Care settings.

6. How do we fight against microbes that make
us ill?
• The bodies defence system is known as the Immune System. Under
normal circumstances our bodies is able to fight off the effects of
viruses and bacteria.
• When the bodies defence system is weakened we are prescribed
antibiotics (or other forms of immunizations) to help us fight the
effect of the bacteria and or virus.
• Prevention however is seen as a valuable intervention that Health and
Social Care Professionals can use to assist many of our clients
particularly post operation or when receiving regulated carer services
in the community.

7. What action can be taken within Health and Social
Care settings?
• Clean your hands – a campaign by the National Patient Safety Agency
(2004)
• Introduced the message of the 5 moments of hand hygiene aimed at
reducing the spread of microbes.
Ref:
http://www.npsa.nhs.uk/cleanyourhands/resource-area/evidence-
base/?EntryId34=58491

8. The 5 moments of hand hygiene

9. Thank you

10. References
• Betsy, T and Keogh, J (2005) Microbiology Demystified. London.
McGraw- Hill.
• Heritage J, Evans, E.G.V and Killington, R.A ( 1996) Introductory
Microbiology. UK. Cambridge University Press
• Postgate, J (2000) Microbes and Man. UK.Cambridge University Press.
• Wagner, E et al (2004) Basic Virology. UK. Blackwell Publishing.