MRSA, Mersa, Staph, Staff Infection, Treatment & Symptoms

Neckties an infection hotspot?

Nothing to Sneeze At: Doctors' Neckties Seen as Flu Risk - WSJ.com.

The list of things to avoid during flu season includes crowded buses, hospitals and handshakes. Consider adding this: your doctor's necktie. Neckties are rarely, if ever, cleaned. When a patient is seated on the examining table, doctors' ties often dangle perilously close to sneeze level. In recent years, a debate has emerged in the medical community over whether they harbor dangerous germs. Several hospitals have proposed banning them outright. Some veteran doctors suspect the antinecktie campaign has more to do with younger physicians' desire to dress casually than it does with modern medicine. At least one tie maker is pushing a compromise solution: neckwear with an antimicrobial coating.

What should doctors wear?

Link: What should doctors wear? -- Turaga and Bhagavatula 337 (243): a938 -- BMJ.

Clostridium difficile and meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have shifted the focus of infection prevention from the specialists in infectious diseases to the wider public realm. The attire of physicians and surgeons is being posited as a carrier of these infections, and politicians are calling for doctors’ clothing to be changed as a measure to fight the spread of infection. Last September’s move by the UK health secretary, Alan Johnson, to get rid of the long sleeved white coat raised many eyebrows (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6998195.stm). A few studies have shown the white coat to be a carrier of bacteria, although the quality of the evidence is low. Cultures grown from samples taken from medical students’ coats have shown bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, especially on the sleeves and in the pockets.1 But, as can be expected, similar cultures could be obtained from scrubs or even street clothes

Hospital doctors in short sleeves halve infection rates

Link: BBC NEWS | England | Devon | Hospital doctors in short sleeves.

Doctors no longer wear white coats at a hospital, as part of a drive to reduce the spread of infections. The scheme, trialled at Torbay Hospital in Devon for 18 months, is expected to be rolled out across the UK by the NHS. Doctors and all clinical staff are not allowed to wear anything on their arms below the elbow to enable them to wash their hands more efficiently. Bosses said the regime has contributed to a 50% cut in MRSA rates and a 60% reduction in Clostridium difficile. There has also been a 60% reduction in the number of cases of over the past 12 months.

Nurses to get national uniform in Wales

Link: Nurses to get national uniform in Wales - WalesOnline.

NURSES across Wales will be required to wear a standard uniform under plans to be unveiled this week. The new uniform will be designed to reduce the risk of healthcare-acquired infections spreading between patients and staff on clothing. And it will be “impractical” to wear outdoors, ending public concern that nurses are wearing their uniforms outside work. But the uniform will also enable patients and visitors to distinguish between different grades of nurses and healthcare staff working on wards. It will clearly distinguish which nurses are in charge.

Silver additive to wash MRSA away?

Link: Universal Detection Technology's Anti-Microbial Washing Additive Proves Effective Against the Re-Growth of MRSA - FOXBusiness.com.

UDTT's Silver Washing Machine Additive, when added to the wash cycle, gives Long Lasting Anti-microbial Protection to all clothes, bed linen, towels, and fabrics for up to 50 washes. This protection prevents re-growth of bacteria, mold fungi and odors, even after extensive use, the fabrics remain fresh and free from smells. Experiments by researchers at Wayne State University Medical School show that surfaces treated with the additive remain sterile for up to 6 weeks. The prevention of re-growth of bacteria is a significant step in curtailing the spread of MRSA.

MRSA Found On Doctor's Neckties

Link: MRSA Found On Doctor's Neckties - Health News Story - KCTV Kansas City.

When people are sick, a trip to the doctor is supposed to make them feel better. But when KCTV5 News had tested something to which patients likely come very close when they visit the doctor, even the lab was surprised by what was found. KCTV5 had three of a doctor's neckties analyzed. While one came back clean, the other two tested positive for nine different bacteria types.

Wristwatches an Infection Source in Hospitals

Link: Beware Of Doctors And Nurses Wearing Wristwatches: They Could Be Potential Sources Of Hospital-acquired Infection.

According to a study conducted by A.R. Jeans, R.C. Read and colleagues (Sheffield University, UK), presented at the 18th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Barcelona, healthcare workers who wear wristwatches are more likely to be contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus. Two consecutive cohorts of wristwatch wearers and non-wristwatch wearers (n=655) were evaluated to measure the rate of bacterial contamination. Staphylococcus aureus was found on the hands of 25% of the wristwatch wearers, while it was lower in the non-wristwatch wearers.

Hospitals forbid staff to go home in uniform

Link: News & Star.

STAFF at north Cumbria’s two main hospitals will soon be banned from going home in their uniforms. The move, which comes into effect next month, is part of the health trust’s drive to cut the spread of superbugs such as MRSA and C Difficile. Sandy Brown, the trust’s nursing director, said unions had been informed of the draft policy and that the trust needed to look at facilities to allow staff to change. But public sector union Unison said staff should not be travelling to and from work in their uniforms anyway.

Uniform Swap To Beat Infections

Link: Uniform Swap To Beat Infections (from Wiltshire Times).

NURSES and therapy staff at Salisbury District Hospital will swap their old style uniforms for scrubs from Monday as part of the Trust's approach to protect patients from infections. As part of a new uniform policy, other staff involved in direct patient care will also wear short sleeves and will be required to remove wrist watches and wrist jewellery. Tracey Nutter, Director of Nursing said: "Although infection rates at Salisbury District Hospital remain low, we are always reviewing our policies and procedures and introducing measures that help prevent the spread of infection." advertisement "Infections such as MRSA and Clostridium Difficile can be passed on by human contact. They can also live for a while on equipment or clothes. "Nursing staff are the key staff group where scrubs could make a real difference to our infection prevention and control procedures. This is because, unlike most other staff groups, they have that very close regular contact with patients."

Hospital ID tags help spread disease

Link: Hospital ID tags help spread disease | The Courier-Mail.

HEALTHCARE workers who wear identity badges and lanyards could be spreading dangerous bacteria and infection around hospitals. A study of 71 workers at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne found that 27 lanyards and 18 identity badges carried bacteria that is capable of causing disease. Infectious disease physician Dr Rhonda Stuart said in the Medical Journal of Australia, published today, that the spread of dangerous organisms was concerning. "We know there's lots of organisms in the environment and we transfer organisms with our hands from patient to patient," Dr Stuart said. "We know there's organisms on ties and pens and on badges and lanyards as well. Lanyards and badges need to be cleaned more regularly and we encourage people to attach their badges with clips rather than around their neck."

Doctor wristwatch ban 'dangerous'

Link: BBC NEWS | Health | Doctor wristwatch ban 'dangerous'.

A ban on hospital doctors wearing wristwatches could be potentially dangerous, say researchers. Hospitals are about to implement a "bare below the elbows" dress code following advice from the Department of Health on how to cut infection risk. But researchers at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital asked doctors to estimate respiratory and pulse rates without looking at a second hand. The estimates varied wildly when doctors had to rely just on judgement. The study, by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, appears in The British Medical Journal.

Anti-superbug pyjamas go on sale

Link: BBC NEWS | Health | Anti-superbug pyjamas go on sale.

Silver-lined pyjamas designed to protect against the hospital superbug MRSA have gone on sale in the UK. M&S is the first British retailer to stock the £45 Sleep Safe pyjamas and is trialling them at 100 stores. Silver is known for its infection-fighting properties and silver-laced nightwear has already been tested in a handful of hospitals. But campaigners called the pyjamas a gimmick and said the only way to tackle MRSA was by making hospitals cleaner.

New tunics will cut MRSA

Link: Richmond and Twickenham Times.

Junior doctors at West Middlesex Hospital will be among the first in the UK to wear new blue sleeveless tunics - known as "scrubs" in the United States - in a move to stop the spread of infections like MRSA. The new uniforms, which will replace the traditional long-sleeved white coat, will be standard for the Isleworth hospital's doctors starting in October, making it one of the first hospitals in the country to enforce the measure. Chief executive at West Mid, Tara Donnelly said: "The decision to provide uniforms for our doctors demonstrates the level of our commitment to fighting infection. advertisement "The idea came from our medical staff themselves and we have responded rapidly to this excellent suggestion. We have started with our doctors in training and have provided uniforms, lockers and changing areas and will be evaluating the impact closely." Made of quick-drying, anti-microbial (infection-fighting) fabric which repels bacteria, the new uniforms will be worn for all activities in the wards.

Hospital staff told to cover up

Link: BBC NEWS | England | Derbyshire | Hospital staff told to cover up.

Health staff should not be seen wearing their uniforms in public places such as supermarkets and public houses, unless they are on official business. The trust said the new rules would also reassure the public that infections, such as MRSA, were not being brought into hospitals on staff uniforms. Lynn Hyatt, assistant director of nursing at Derby Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Whether or not infections can be passed on from people wearing uniforms outside of work, it's about public perception.

'Uniform' approach to fight MRSA

Link: 'Uniform' approach to fight MRSA.

Hospitals should fund and launder staff uniforms in order to help prevent the spread of MRSA and other hospital infections, a leading expert has said. Prof Hilary Humphreys of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland told a public meeting in Dublin on healthcare-associated infection that MRSA and other infections can be found in all sorts of places including clothes. He said in he past, hospitals used to provide coats and uniforms for staff and the hospital would launder them. In recent years, however, the policy has been that staff must provide their own uniforms. Prof Humphreys said healthcare institutions should go back to funding the provision and laundering of staff coats and uniforms, as standard clothes-washing procedures can kill bugs.

Silver clothing an MRSA killer

Link: HD - Hospital Development.

Researchers experimenting with the materials and design of hospital clothing have initiated new trials in their quest to develop a simple and economic way of preventing MRSA infection. A common objective of the projects is to ensure MRSA does not contaminate the patient's skin, thus reducing the risk of it entering the bloodstream and causing infection. In a trial run by Barts and The London NHS Trust, 150 patients who have tested positive for carrying MRSA on their skin will be trying out pyjamas and bed linen with cloth containing silver. “Silver is known to be a very efficient agent against infection and also very safe,” said Dr Peter Wilson, a consultant microbiologist at the trust. “It is already being used in a number of medical products such as plasters and even in washing machines, so this is just the next logical step.”

Hospital gown to help combat MRSA

Link: Daily Star: Simply The Best 7 Days A Week.

A hospital gown for patients that helps control the growth of the MRSA superbug is to go on trial. It has an anti-microbial coating, and is designed to have minimal contact between patient and nurse to reduce the spread of the bug, which kills up to 3,000 people a year. The gown was designed by Fatima Ba-Alawi, of DCS Designs, a graduate start-up company from the University of Portsmouth. The trial at University College London Hospital (UCLH) will last for eight weeks and involve 30 patients in the intensive care unit and an operating theatre. Patients and staff will be surveyed to assess the gown's benefits, and laboratory tests will analyse how successful they have been in cutting the number of bugs.

MRSA - Uniform can kill it - Video

Link: BBC News Player.

Click the link above for video on a new uniform that will fight MRSA

Students test MRSA-killer uniform

Link: BBC NEWS

    Student nurses in Kent and Medway are testing a new type of uniform designed to help in the fight against the hospital superbug MRSA. The fabric contains an anti-microbial treatment which "electrocutes" harmful bacteria to stop them spreading. Canterbury Christ Church University believes it is the first in the UK to trial the product, called Permagard.

Ulster to target Uniforms in MRSA fight

Link: Sunday Life.

    Nurses may be ordered to STRIP when they come off duty in hospital wards across Ulster. For uniforms are now being targeted in a bid to slash MRSA rates of infection. A campaign group has warned that medical staff should NEVER wear uniforms outside hospital. And an action plan drawn up by the Department of Health has also highlighted key preventative areas which are being ignored. Tony Field, chairman of MRSA Support, told Sunday Life: "The issue of staff uniforms is serious. I see many nurses outside in shops and on public transport still wearing their uniforms. "This can only contribute to the spread of MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections. "Uniforms worn outside the hospital take infections out, as well as bringing in germs from the street."