I spent 2 full days last week at Prescott Elementary School (Lincoln, NE) teaching hand hygiene and cough etiquette to the entire student body (grades K-5 ) and the 4 classes of ExCITE (a federally-funded pre-school program).  >400 students and their teachers were eager to learn about "Practical Microbiology" from the nanobugs  (and me).  It was obvious to me that the children had already been acquainted with the importance of hand hygiene but the new educational experience I provided was beneficial in demonstrating proper technique and reinforcing the need for hand hygiene - when to wash, alternatives to soap and water, etc.   I observed, in the course of the day, children and staff using proper cough etiquette both before and after my training sessions.  I hope that this enthusiasm for the nanobugs will effectively reinforce these behaviors. 

My thanks to Laura Tegtmeier - science teacher for the school and Diane Lamb - physical education teacher for the school- for their help and enthusiasm for promoting healthy behaviors and their organizational skills to schedule all the students through the training in a 2-day period.  I must also declare my appreciation and admiration for the contribution that public school teachers and staff make to the education and emotional and physical development of our children!  The skills and patience that are necessary these days in the educational setting are astounding.  My head was spinning with the task of teaching such a variety of students in each classroom - the mentally and physically challenged students, bilingual children,  in addition to the masses of children that are normally energetic, or obviously tired,  misbehaving, or attention-seeking  on any given day.  (My years of teaching have generally been with adult audiences.)  The nanobugs provided a helpful tool to get and hold the attention of the children and to reinforce what they had already being taught.  Hats off the teachers, para-professionals, school nurses, food handlers, sign language interpreters, bilingual teachers, and other school staff! You are doing important work.

In December, I was given opportunity to teach "practical microbiology-featuring the "nanobugs" in a variety of school and classroom settings.  What a great reception I have received from teachers, professors and students.  My granddaughter, Maisy, a second-grader at Calvert Elementary School in Lincoln insisted that her nana and her mother were willing and qualified to teach her classmates about handwashing and microbiology.  At the invitation of Maisy's teacher, Mrs. Oehring, we taught hand hygiene and cough etiquette.  The day before our visit the class had explored the nanobugs website and the students and the teacher fell in love with the nanobugs (that is the secret part of our mission: to entertain and educate people of all ages about practical microbiology for the purpose of infection prevention).  The one hour we spent in the classroom with those second graders was really rewarding.  They were so eager to learn about microbiology and most had already selected their favorite nanobug.  I am continually surprised at which nanobugs kids choose as their favorites. We played the Hepatitis A 3-D video for them and watched with delight as they were entertained by the informative "rap" and begged to hear it "just one more time".  The only thing more delightful was seeing the pride in Maisy's eyes as we delivered on her promise that her nana and mother would teach her classmates all about the nanobugs and microbiology.  They seemed to love learning and repeating their new word - microbiology - I think it makes them feel smart.  To reinforce their learning, we provided temporary tattoos for the students and static cling handwashing reminders (featuring Clostridium difficile) for mounting on the mirrors in the school restrooms. 

Earlier in the month Hannah and I had attended the healthy living fair at Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska.  The nanobugs were a big hit there, too, especially with the students currently taking biology and the LPN students and pharmacy tech students who bought card collections to use as a novel study tool.   I will be presenting a lecture - Practical Microbiology featuring the nanobugs - to the student body on that campus on January 22^nd.

Before the semester break in December, I also had the opportunity to lecture to collegiate biology students at Nebraska Wesleyan University here in Lincoln.  My assignment as guest lecturer was to give a comprehensive introduction to microbiology in one class period.  What fun it was to share the nanobugs with this audience, too!  The professor gave the students a homework assignment to research 3 different microbes and complete an assignment sheet.  The nanobugs website provided a good reference for the resourceful (or lazy) student and the 2-D animation in the Menagerie probably helped the student retain the information as they experienced the "microbes with attitude".    I kept thinking about my 1972 class at Drake University - Microbiology for Nurses - it was a long boring semester for me and I think I got a "C" in that class - mostly due to my aversion to the subject.  And look at me now - promoting "practical microbiology" with my precious nanobugs and having a great time of it!  I never would have thought........  

There is a lot of talk this week about new years' resolutions - but only for one week in January.  I am very serious about setting goals for each year utilizing categories of health, personal growth, family/friends, finances, career/profession, home and property.  My annual goals fit under my lifetime goals, mission and core values. I have been doing this detailed goal setting for quite a few years now and I find it comfortable and comforting.  I do quarterly assessments of progress and that keeps me going.   

At the nanobugs headquarters, we have developed a new tagline/slogan for 2008 that I think is very appropriate to our mission: Intend to be...infection-free!  There is a component of infection prevention that goes beyond the recommended actions like vaccinations, hand hygiene and probiotics (not that those are not important).   But what we INTEND is what comes about.  ("What you think about expands".)  Rather than spouting the reality that you "usually get 2 colds a year" or "I have at least one episode of stomach flu in the winter", why not "intend to be infection-free"?  Focus your thoughts on prevention and your intention.    

Don't feel defeated if you do manage to be tormented by one nanobug or another.  Just do a little epidemiological investigation and determine the probable cause (careful here- no blaming of yourself or others is allowed).  Then identify prevention techniques to employ in order to avoid this infection experience in the future. 

My advice for the new year:  Get a flu shot, wash your hands, sleep well and often, drink Kefir (it's full of probiotics) and....

Intend to be...infection-free!