About the Primary Care Unit

The aim of the unit is to improve the management and diagnosis of infection in primary care and improve clinicians' and the public's awareness of antibiotic resistance.

Since its inception in 1998, the Primary Care Unit has made great progress in key areas identified in the Chief Medical Officer's report, Getting Ahead of the Curve. This progress has been through forging close links with academic primary care departments and collaboration with HPA and NHS microbiologists throughout the UK.

The Unit now has a rolling programme in three main areas: antibiotic resistance and school/public education in this area, Chlamydia screening and primary care laboratory use. Other areas include infection control in care homes and Helicobacter pylori.

Primary care guidance

The PCU has led the development of primary care guidance in the form of Quick Reference Guides on antibiotic use and laboratory use, and co-ordinates the microbiology review of the Clinical Knowledge Summaries – web-based infectious disease guidance for primary care. These guides are updated regularly and available on the Internet free-of-charge. The guidance can also be adapted by primary care trusts to suit local conditions.

Education and research

Education and research are also key areas of work for the Unit. The Primary Care Unit is the lead agency for the European Commission's DG-Sanco funded project, E-Bug, to deliver teaching resources on antibiotic use and hygiene to schools across 18 EU countries.

• Resource and information requirements for teachers delivering SRE
  The Health Protection Agency is undertaking a national research project in collaboration with the Sex Education Forum to establish the information and resource requirements of teachers delivering Sex and Relationships Education at key stages 3 & 4.
  Added/updated: 7 January 2010