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Course details

  • Duration: 5 weeks -
    including live online sessions
  • Fees:
    - Â£395 for doctors
    - Â£300 
    for nurses and AHPs 
    ESPID members / Imperial College Healthcare & University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust staff/Wessex trainees:
      - Â£250 
  • Venue: Online
  • Contact us
Register interest

Recognition of serious infection in children is a topic of national importance. Research shows that the death rate from infection in children in the UK is higher than the rest of Europe and serious infection in children is not well recognised in the acute setting.

Research from Imperial College on meningococcal sepsis in children, the leading infectious cause of death, has shown that there is inadequate recognition and initial management of meningococcal sepsis in secondary care.

The course is part of a range of short courses spread throughout the academic year which are available both to students who are enrolled on the MSc in paediatrics and child health and as stand-alone CPD accredited programmes for all healthcare professionals. The courses are offered in line with level 3 of the RCPCH curriculum.

More information

Course aims

The aim of this course is to give healthcare professionals who see acutely unwell children a practical and evidence based approach to diagnosis and management of a wide range of infections. 

Areas covered will include Epidemiology of Paediatric infection, The septic child, Children presenting with: neurological problems, a painful limb, Gastrointestinal presentations, Fever and a rash (to include chickenpox, Toxic shock syndrome, Kawasaki disease), Practical microbiology: new bacteria and old and Antibiotics - what to prescribe and when.

Course structure & delivery

The course is run online over 5 consecutive weeks. The course is a blend of guided self-directed learning and synchronous live online sessions. Work will include group sessions, individual efforts and presentations as well as interactive discussions.  

The course adopts an active learning strategy which consists of: ​ 

  • ​Pre-course work with activities to prepare for the course.
  • Self-directed tasks such as reading, researching & watching lectures with related activities to enhance & consolidate your learning​​.
  • Group work and group presentations.
  • Case-based learning and practical guidance where relevant.

 All teaching is delivered by highly experienced paediatric practitioners and educators.

It is estimated that you will conduct 7 - 10 hours per week of guided and self-directed learning. You will be required to complete at least 80% of learning activities to receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Online sessions
The synchronous online sessions will be delivered on the following dates*:

Wednesday, 5 May: 14.00 – 16.00

Wednesday, 12 May: 14.00 – 16.00

Wednesday, 19 May: 14.00 – 16.00

Wednesday, 26 May: 14.00 – 16.00

Wednesday, 2 June: 14.00 – 16.00

*Dates may be subject to change

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at doctors of all grades who assess and manage children with infections. It is particularly suited to general and specialty trainees, and consultant in general paediatrics. The content may also be of interest to nurses and other health professionals who are involved in the care of children with serious infections.

Comments from past participants

"Good reminder about antibiotics, mechanism of action and learned about useful antibiotic considerations. Excellent pathophysiology lecture."

"Excellent day. Great learning opportunity"

"Fantastic learning opportunity. Using scenarios and clinical experiences is a more effective method to teach infection in children"