MRSA (Mersa) Questions

Doorknob swabber never rests

Link: BBC NEWS

Mmmm - all the literature I've read mentions that anti bacteria products used for cleaning may speed up the resistance cycle. What products are being pushed here because its hard to know whether they help or hinder without that info

Northants-based MRSA expert Dr Chris Malyszewicz said many contracted-out cleaning services in the NHS used cleaning products so weak that they had no effect on the MRSA bug. "They have been found using neutral detergents. If you go to ( a supermarket) and buy the cheapest cleaning fluid - that is basically what they are using. Call for matrons "These are not suitable. It actually spreads the growth of bacteria." Dr Malyszewicz, of Chemsol Consultancy, Bugbrooke, Northants, said there were two steps that could be taken to combat MRSA. "I have lobbied for first for the return of the matron. That will give us more control on what is being done in current hospitals. "And secondly we must give contract cleaners a nominated product that is known to be very efficient."

Hospital steaming about MRSA

Link: Portsmouth Today

HOSPITAL bosses have ordered the steam cleaning of thousands of pieces of equipment to boost the battle against the MRSA superbug. The latest move is part of a 60-point action plan being put into force by NHS chiefs at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust – rated as of the 10 worst organisations in the country for MRSA over the last two years. Domestic cleaning managers have arranged for Southern Services, based on Portsmouth's London Road, to come in and deep clean every single bed, chair, table and locker used by patients at Queen Alexandra Hospital, and later on at St Mary's Hospital as well. The work could cost the trust up to �85,000.

When the tabloids are desperate

Link: SundayMirror.co.uk

.... they send the biologist below to swab a hospital. As the hospital point out keeping MRSA off surfaces is like painting the Forth Bridge - the job never ends.

THE hospital where a one-day-old baby became Britain's youngest MRSA victim is STILL infested with the deadly superbug. Six weeks after Luke Day died, a Sunday Mirrror investigation at Ipswich Hospital uncovered levels almost six times higher than acceptable limits. Of 15 swabs tested, our undercover reporter collected NINE samples of the bacteria. High levels were found on ward doors, in corridors, on patients' toilets, and telephones. Expert Dr Chris Malyszewicz, who analysed the samples, said: "If MRSA is anywhere in the hospital, it is everywhere. And each time a patient or visitor comes into contact with the bacteria, it is spread still further." A spokesman for Ipswich Hospital said: "You can't physically go round and clean every door handle every time someone touches it. Independent inspections find the level of MRSA infections here has dropped."

Endurocide works for 7 days

Link: Gloucestershire Echo

A Cheltenham firm is leading the fight against hospital superbug MRSA. Endurocide is working closely with the NHS to develop advanced products that can keep wards clean. The company, which has offices in Imperial Square, has developed a product that destroys bacteria on surfaces for seven days. They are looking at ways to fuse the product with material on hospital beds and curtains. Endurocide has landed a six figure deal with a company in China. Chinafaith bought the licence to distribute its cleaning product and have invested �1.7 million in a factory.

chlorhexidine gluconate tested

Link: HighWire Press -- Medline Abstract.

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal activity of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) were determined for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Eterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia, isolated from patients in medical institutions all over Japan between 2000 and 2002. The following findings were obtained. 1. The MICs of CHG against MSSA, MRSA, E. coli and B. cepacia were 0.002% or less, and those against S. marcescens, E. cloacae and P. aeruginosa were 0.008% or less. 2. Rapid and strong bactericidal effects of CHG were observed against all clinical isolates of E. coli, E. cloacae and P. aeruginosa tested even at relatively low concentrations (0.02 to 0.05%). 3. Relatively high concentration or prolonged treatment time was required to achieve sufficient bactericidal effect of CHG against some isolates of S. aureus, S. marcescens and B. cepacia. These results suggest that CHG is useful antiseptic agent or disinfectant for recent clinical isolates of various bacterial pathogens. In addition, the selection of treatment concentration and treatment time for each organism and purpose was important to obtain sufficient bactericidal effect.

MRSA becoming resistant to household cleaners

Link: HighWire Press -- Medline Abstract.

To characterize mutants of Staphylococcus aureus expressing reduced susceptibility to house cleaners (HC), assess the impact of the alternative sigma factor SigB on HC susceptibility, and determine the MIC of clinical methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) to a HC. Methods and Results: Susceptibility to HC, HC components, H(2)O(2), vancomycin and oxacillin and physiological parameters were determined for HC-reduced susceptibility (HC(RS)) mutants, parent strain COL and COLsigB::kan. HC(RS) mutants selected with three HC expressed reduced susceptibility to multiple HC, HC components, H(2)O(2) and vancomycin. Two unique HC(RS) mutants also lost the methicillin resistance determinant. In addition, all HC(RS) mutants exhibited better growth at two temperatures, and one HC(RS) mutant expressed reduced carotenoid production. COLsigB::kan demonstrated increased susceptibility to all HC and many HC components. sigB operon mutations were not detected in one HC(RS) mutant background. Of 76 clinical MRSA, 20 exhibited reduced susceptibility to a HC. Conclusions: HC(RS) mutants demonstrate altered susceptibility to multiple antimicrobials. While sigB is required for full HC resistance, one HC(RS) mechanism does not involve sigB operon mutations. Clinical MRSA expressing reduced susceptibility to a common HC were detected. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study suggests that HC(RS) mutants are not protected against, nor selected by, practical HC concentrations.

Superbug-beating cleaner's production may switch to Wales

Link: icWales

A COMPANY behind a powerful germ-killing product is looking at moving its production to Wales. A-Z Cleaning and Sanitation Services employs six full-time staff at its head office in Bridgend, and a further eight staff are employed at its production site in Kent. The company also has four drivers on its books. Managing director Ahmet Ziyaeddin said the company was now examining centralising all its functions in Wales. "We have been holding some talks with local politicians about getting support if we were to bring production to Wales," he said. The company produces a product called Powerklean, a cleaning solution which is effective in killing germs including the hospital superbug MRSA. Some cleaning products kill all germs down to one in 1,000 or one in 100,000, but Mr Ziyaeddin said his product had been verified as even more effective.