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Royal's zero tolerance battle with superbug
Hospital matrons have launched an MRSA screening programme for all patients undergoing pre-booked surgical procedures in a bid to reduce the risk of infection.
Around three per cent of us carry the bacteria harmlessly on our skin and in our nostrils – called colonisation – but MRSA can be deadly if given the opportunity to enter the body.
Chesterfield Royal Hospital has always screened 'high risk' patients for MRSA but on Monday the pre-admissions clinic began checking everyone admitted for an elective (pre-booked) procedure.
Diane Simpson, senior matron for infection, prevention and control, said: "This is another weapon in the arsenal of preventing cross-infection.
"It gives us a head start with the patient. If they are carrying MRSA we can give them treatment which will significantly reduce the risk of infection."
As an infection, MRSA causes boils, infected wounds, abscesses and infections of the chest, bloodstream and urine – and can be a killer. It has become resistant to some antibiotics, making it difficult to treat.
Diane said people should not worry if they are found to be a carrier, adding: "MRSA is not to be feared, but it is to be respected and needs to be treated."
A swab will be taken from the patient's nostrils or groin and sent off to Microbiology for testing. If it returns positive, they will be given treatments – an antibiotic nose cream and skin wash – to use at home for five days before their procedure.
Sister Liz Greenwood said: "It is a very simple but effective way of combating MRSA infection risks because colonisation, although harmless in itself, may cause an infection somewhere down the line."
Diane said it was important people completed any prescribed course, adding: "It's vital that people use the treatments prescribed because failure to do so could lead to your procedure being delayed or even cancelled."
She said the screening system – part of a nationwide initiative brought in by the Department of Health – was a welcome addition to the hospital's already strong programme of infection control, hand hygiene and cleaning regime.
Diane said the Royal was one of the top performers in the country for MRSA rates with just seven cases over the last year.
Cases of Clostridium difficile (C-diff) were slightly higher at 12. There is not yet a reliable screening process for C-diff, which is carried in the gut and spreads more easily than MRSA.
Diane added: "We have low rates here but we don't want any cases. It's impossible to remove all infections but we take a zero-tolerance approach."
MRASA FACTS
MRSA, which has been around since the 1960s, stands for Meticilin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.
Around three per cent of the population carries MRSA bacteria harmlessly.
Chesterfield Royal Hospital is expecting to screen around 20,000 patients undergoing surgical procedures in the coming year.
As an infection, MRSA can cause boils, infected wounds, abscesses and infections of the urine, chest and bloodstream – and can be a killer.
There were 676 cases reported in the NHS between October and December last year – a 38 per cent drop from the same quarter in 2007.
There have been seven cases of MRSA at Chesterfield Royal Hospital over the last financial year – the lowest rate in the East Midlands.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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