NurseWeek: Microbes With AttitudeNebraska RN uses creativity to teach infection preventionBarbara Kois According to their creator, Nancy Haberstich, RN, MS, CIC, of Lincoln, Neb., nanobugs are cartoon microbes that promote health and wellness by entertaining and educating people of all ages about practical microbiology.In the middle of a career as an infection control coordinator and international consultant that had taken her to Africa, Japan, Canada, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, Haberstich decided to switch her focus from infection control to infection prevention. “I thought if kids can learn about Tyrannosaurus rex, they can also learn the characteristics and the proper names of microbes — practical microbiology,” she said. With that idea, three years ago nanobugs inc. was born. Haberstich’s vision is that people in a variety of global cultures will be able to identify microbes and use related information to develop effective infection prevention strategies. More than 50 nanobugs exist today, and Haberstich and the team — a product manager, an art director, a microbiologist, an STI consultant, a writer, and a humorist/audio consultant — are in the process of developing more, including a probiotic series featuring bacteria that enhance the immune system and help prevent infection. The characters represent bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Their cartoon images reveal natural characteristics of the microbe or the infection it causes. The bacteria and fungi nanobugs are shaped to resemble the way they appear under the microscope — as rods, spheres, chains, or clusters. Anaerobic bacteria do not grow in the presence of oxygen, so those nanobugs appear with gas masks. Some nanobugs have a force field around them to show they are antibiotic-resistant. The nanobugs.com website offers coloring books, card collections, temporary tattoos, artwork, prints, aprons, and T-shirts. Teaching materials for parents, teachers, and health professionals also are available. Haberstich, president and CEO of the company, also is co-authoring a nanobugs fiction book for children ages 10 to 14 and a microbiology manual that will feature the nanobugs. She hopes that her “microbes with attitude” entertain and educate many children and lead to a healthier tomorrow. Barbara Kois is a freelance writer. Copyright May 2008. Nursing Spectrum Nurse Wire (www.nursingspectrum.com). All rights reserved. Used with permission. |
nanobugs, Inc |
 |
