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Link: This Is Local London
AN unlikely new weapon in the fight against deadly hospital infections is being tested at Newham University Hospital. Patient pyjamas made with a fabric containing threads of silver are expected to be introduced for 12 months as part of the hospital's attempts to eliminate MRSA. The trial, which is yet to be fully approved, will test the effectiveness of the so-called See it Safe fabric developed by Toray Textiles. The Nottinghamshire-based company claim tests have shown the fabric kills 99.9 per cent of harmful bacteria in under an hour. Consultant microbiologist Dr Peter Wilson, who heads the hospita'ls infection control team, approached Toray to offer the hospital as a site for the trial. Patients with MRSA will be asked for their permission to take part in tests. They will then be randomly allocated either the silver-lined pyjamas or identical bedwear made with standard fabric, and monitored during treatment. They will not know which pyjamas they are wearing.
Link: Special pyjamas
Special pyjamas made by a Notts firm could combat MRSA "like waving a magic wand". The fabric, which is woven with silver, is being tested in hospital. It was created by Mansfield-based Toray Textiles and works by killing superbug bacteria. The 'See it Safe' silver fibre could eventually be used to produce hospital bedding, surgical gowns and curtains. It is being tested over the next 12 months at Newham University Hospital in East London.
Link: A New dress code
A New dress code for staff is to be introduced in Derby's hospitals to reduce the risk of spreading superbugs like MRSA. Under the plans, staff will be banned from wearing their uniform in pubs and restaurants and forced to cover up uniforms when shopping. Managers at the hospital are also considering a stronger dress code which they hope would discourage staff from shopping while still in uniform. Kay Fawcett, director of nursing at Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The trust is currently working with all staff groups to decide the most appropriate method of implementing a new uniform policy. "We're committed to presenting a professional approach to the dress code to provide confidence in the public that we're providing a quality service and also working to control cross-infection, both in and outside of the trust."
Link: The Sun Online
SUPER-PYJAMAS made with a special silver cloth that destroys the killer bug MRSA are to be tested in a hospital. Makers of the anti-microbial material say it can wipe out MRSA on the skin — protecting vulnerable patients. They claim it is clinically proven to eliminate 99.99 per cent of more than 800 micro-organisms in less than an hour. Dr Peter Wilson, of Newham University Hospital in East London, is conducting a clinical trial with 300 pairs of the bug-busting pyjamas. The cloth is interwoven with threads of silver, which are activated by moisture and heat from the body to kill bacteria. Dr Wilson said: “Silver is known to be a very efficient agent against infection. It will be like waving a magic wand in the fight against MRSA.”
Link: Latest Local News... - Peterborough Today:
DOCTORS could soon be banned from wearing ties to work as hospital chiefs make a bid to stop the spread of superbugs. Hospital bosses are currently drawing up a dress code for staff to minimise the risk of infections such as MRSA being taken into wards. Already, Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has ruled that nurses should not wear uniforms outside hospital premises, and now they are looking into a ban on doctors wearing ties at work. It follows a recommendation from the British Medical Association (BMA) that "functionless" ties should not be worn as they are seldom washed and carry a variety of germs. The plans would affect the city's Edith Cavell Hospital, Peterborough District Hospital and Stamford Hospital. The new rule could prove unpopular with medical staff and patients, many of whom feel reassured by the appearance of a smartly- dressed hospital doctor. Elizabeth Cole, the original matron of Peterborough District Hospital when it opened in 1968, said she could see little reason why a ban should be introduced.
Link: UK Nurses At Breaking Point As Attacks And Bullying Increase.
The RCN has been calling for nurses to have access to changing and uniform laundering facilities to combat MRSA and other Health Care Acquired Infections (HCAI). Yet, the Working Well survey found that the number of nurses with access to changing facilities has dropped from 61% in 2000 to 50% in 2005. Only 39% of nurses have access to showering facilities at work. Just 35% of hospital based NHS nurses said their employer provided a uniform laundering service, dropping to 30% in independent hospitals. Beverly Malone, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: “Nursing is a hugely rewarding profession, but this survey demonstrates the tough issues that nurses are facing everyday on top of a job that is physically and mentally demanding. Added to these pressures, nurses are being threatened with yet more reforms, pay cuts and job losses.
Link: theage.com.au.
The advice stems from a study by the British Medical Association's board of science into health-care associated infections (HCAIs) — infections you get when being treated for something else. The board has issued a guide for health-care professionals warning that "pathogenic micro-organisms including S. aureus, C. difficile and GRE are frequently carried on clothes, representing a potential source of cross infection in the clinical setting". In other words, you could get a nasty infection from your doctor's tie. Maximum contamination occurs in areas of greatest hand contact, meaning there can be re-contamination after your doctor washes his hands, fiddles with his tie, then touches you. "Certain clothes such as ties are rarely laundered but worn daily, commonly outside the health-care environment," the guide warns. "Ties perform no beneficial function in patient care and have been shown to be colonised by pathogens. They are regularly handled by the owner and come into contact with numerous objects. Ties have the potential, therefore, to act as a vector for the transmission of HCAIs." The medical association's board of science recommends that doctors "refrain from wearing functionless clothing items such as ties".
Link: Formula 1 Inspires New Invention to Halt Spread of MRSA in Hospitals.
Changing aprons between patients, a current strategy to combat MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections (HAI), is impractical for healthcare professionals working in busy wards and therefore seldom rigorously adhered to. This is the claim made by London based Kuldeep Kaur Bhangal, a specialist registrar in orthopaedics and a nominee for the 2005 Medical Futures Innovations Awards. Ms Bhangal's solution to the problem 'The Multi-layered Disposable Apron' was inspired by watching Formula 1 drivers tear of their disposable, see-through visors during the race. Kuldeep's novel invention comprises: - A base which is tied just once - 10 detachable layers, which can be torn off and discarded after every patient contact. The Bhangal Apron, which was developed specifically for nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and any other NHS employees who have regular contact with patients, will also benefit other industries where cross-contamination is an issue, such as catering and the food industry.
Link: Courier News Story.
A DUNDEE woman is taking issue with NHS Tayside for making nurses change into clean uniforms when they arrive at work while doctors are allowed to wear their own clothes on the wards. The woman, who asked not to be named, said she was concerned that the âsnobberyâ of some doctors was holding back the fight against the spread of the MRSA bug, which closed ward 11 at Ninewells last week. âI am a regular visitor to Ninewells and you rarely even see a doctor in a white coat,â she explained. âI have seen loads about people complaining about nurses wearing their uniforms outside the hospital because it spreads infection. âBut answer me this, are a doctorâs clothes any cleaner than a nurseâs?
Link: Courier News Story.
IN THE wake of the MRSA ward closure, a health care assistant at Ninewells Hospital has criticised nursing staff for running the risk of carrying infections into the hospital by wearing their uniforms outside. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed that charge nurses and people “higher up” turn a “blind eye” to nurses coming into work with their uniform already on and leaving Ninewells with their work clothes and shoes on. The clothes and shoes, she claims, can carry infections in and out of the hospital, which could help the deadly MRSA bacteria to spread. Ninewells has a uniform policy in place that is supposed to prevent nurses from wearing their uniform outside work. The health care assistant, who has been involved in nursing for over 30 years, said, “I am so angry that the people higher up in the hierarchy and nursing staff allow nurses to go out with their uniform and come in with their uniform. “Then they wonder why there is so much MRSA in Ninewells.
Link: News
HEALTH experts have found a new weapon in the battle against the hospital superbug MRSA – the hot wash. New research shows that washing clothes at a minimum of 60C kills the deadly bacteria. But there is a snag – most modern clothes are now cleaned only on a 40C cycle, meaning that the bug survives. This is because delicate fabrics or bright colours can be ruined by washing them in water that is too hot. And environmental campaigners insist that cooler temperatures should be used to save energy. But hospital bosses are still urging people to think about their clothes before coming in. They are under the spotlight for their failure to control the spread of MRSA. But the bug exists in an estimated 30 per cent of the population and is often unknowingly carried into hospitals by patients or visitors. Graeme Zaki, medical director for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'The MRSA bug is killed if you wash your clothes at 60C, but most are washed at 40C. 'It would be helpful for people to know that, and it is worth reminding people that MRSA exists in the community and many people bring it into hospital.
Link: Evening Star - Lively, Loyal, Local.
COMMUNITY nurses in east Suffolk will not be banned from wearing their uniforms in shops and public buildings, health bosses said today. A primary care trust in Sunderland hit the headlines earlier this week when their staff were told of the controversial proposal. Sunderland health bosses said the move had been made to reflect the current infection control agenda and in response to public fears over superbugs like MRSA. Around 300 community nurses, who visit patients in their homes, have been told not to use any shops while on duty and in uniform. But the Suffolk East Primary Care Trusts have confirmed they have no plans to adopt such a strict ruling. Jeremy Peters, spokesman for the Suffolk East PCTs, said: "Generally, staff are not banned from wearing their uniform while not working but if they have to wear it, for various practical reasons, they are asked to cover it with a coat whilst in public places.
Link: BBC NEWS
An apron with layers that can be peeled away like an onion could be a simple way of cutting hospital infections, according to the doctor who devised it. Kuldeep Bangal, a London trauma surgeon designed the apron so that, as each layer is torn off, a fresh one is ready underneath. Staff currently have to change their single-layered aprons between patients, which can be time-consuming. Miss Bangal says her version would be much easier to use. It's multi-layered, like an onion, so you pull off the top layer and are left with the layers underneath Kuldeep Bangal, Apron inventor The apron is one of the entries into this year's Medical Futures Innovations Awards, due to be announced later this year
Link: BBC NEWS
Plastic disposable aprons worn by nurses may increase the risk of hospital patients contracting an infection, research suggests. A Bristol University study found the aprons can attract high levels of bacteria because they carry a large electrostatic charge. There are an estimated 100,000 hospital-acquired infections in the UK every year. Details were presented to the Institute of Physics. Plastic aprons are commonplace in British hospitals and are often used to prevent nurses' uniforms being soiled. However, they create a particularly high static charge which can last for hours. The Bristol team found they attracted 82.6% more bacteria during use than aprons not carrying a static charge.
Link: Evening Telegraph: News.
A £2 million investment in replacement uniforms for Tayside nurses and a new laundry machine will help tackle MRSA and other hospital acquired infections, writes Marjory Inglis, medical reporter. Today, top Tayside nurse Lesley Summerhill said all nurses in Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital and Perth Royal Infirmary are being supplied with new uniforms, which are to be washed in the hospital laundry and there was no need for the uniforms to be taken home for cleaning. Mrs Summerhill, director of nursing at NHS Tayside acute services division responsible for Ninewells and PRI, was speaking on the day the nurses professional organisation launched a campaign to tackle MRSA and other infections, highlighting “major reforms” necessary across the UK. She made clear her organisation was “ahead of the game” and already tackling the issues highlighted by the national campaign today.
Link: Scotsman.com
Hundreds of thousands of nurses do not have enough uniforms to wear a clean one for each shift, campaigners warned today. Some nurses are even forced to change in and out of their uniforms in hospital toilets because of a lack of proper facilities, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said. The college said the next government would have to invest in hundreds of thousands more uniforms if hospitals were to be successful in their battle with the superbugs. Nurses’ dresses typically cost under �10 as part of a bulk order for the NHS. In a typical trust with 500 nurses it would cost less than �5,000 to give each one an extra uniform. Hospital-acquired infections, including MRSA, are estimated to claim the lives of 5,000 patients each year in the UK, but some campaigners claim the total is actually much higher. The RCN today launched 10 minimum standards for infection prevention and control at its annual congress in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
Link: Scotsman.com News
IT is standard uniform for doctors and nurses in the operating theatre, so it may seem obvious to most people that medical scrubs are not suitable attire for any dining experience. But health chiefs at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary have been forced to crack down on the garments being worn in the canteen. The move follows a number of complaints from staff who were unhappy about "inappropriate" dress in eating areas. Concerned employees felt the measure would increase hygiene and boost the fight against the MRSA superbug. NHS Lothian, which runs the hospital, said staff would never wear "soiled clothing" outside the operating theatre, adding there was "no evidence" to link it with any hospital-acquired infections.
Link: This Is Hertfordshire: News and Features: Barnet.
High heels, dangly jewellery and low-cut tops have been banned by Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, prompting a leading figure in the British Medical Association (BMA) to call the move draconian' and daft'. The trust introduced its new clothing policy to give staff a more professional appearance, as well as to combat the spread of superbug MRSA. Dr Simon Eccles, chairman of the BMA's junior doctors' committee, said: "All doctors are asked to dress professionally at work and ensure that what they are wearing will not put the patients at a risk of MRSA," he said. "But to specify the length of the skirt to one inch, the ear-ring to a certain style, and the heel to no more than 1.5 inches is wholly over the top." The new policy will see clinical staff having to wear their hair tied back, but not with ribbons or combs, and wristwatches and ties being barred.
Link: this is kent
A Riverhead businessman has devised a new uniform for nurses to protect themselves against the MRSA virus. Bob Smart, owner of Ark Leisure on London Road, has created a range of clothing created using a unique thread which has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. He said: "We believe that this new fabric could revolutionise the fight against MRSA. "Surely it is futile for a carer to wash their hands regularly if the largest proportion of their body is still capable of spreading the bug.
Link: BBC NEWS
NHS staff have been banned from having unruly hair and dangly earrings in two hospitals to combat MRSA in a move branded daft by doctors. All employees and medical students at Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals in north London are covered by the code. Hospital bosses also said it was to ensure staff had a professional appearance, the magazine British Medical Association News reported. The code also covers jewellery above-the-knee skirts and high heels. Under the code, clinical staff must tie long hair back, but not with ribbons or combs. The policy is a serious attempt to tackle infection rates, but also ensure staff look professional Nick Samuels Jewellery is limited to simple earrings and one ring and any clothing which exposes the midriff or cleavage is banned. Breaching the code could lead to disciplinary action, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust has warned staff. Dr Simon Eccles, chairman of the BMA's junior doctors committee, said it was "over-the-top to the point of daftness". "I have not heard of any other trust taking such a draconian, big brother approach to dress codes.
Link: icCoventry
Nurses in Coventry could be stopped from wearing their uniforms to and from work in an attempt to crack down on hospital superbug MRSA. Hospital bosses in the city plan to put the new rules in force when the superhospital at Walsgrave is finished, which is expected to be next summer. At present, nurses can wear their uniforms to and from work provided they are covered, because Walsgrave and Coventry and Warwickshire Hospitals do not have adequate changing rooms. But nurses have been spotted wearing their uniforms while out shopping. The fear is that infectious bacteria could be carried in to hospital on their clothing. Hilary Schofield, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire director of nursing, said they had gone out to supermarkets to collar nurses spotted breaking the rule. The new hospital will have changing rooms and lockers, but hospital trust chairman Bryan Stoten has still ordered a full report into the wearing of uniforms.
Link: HDA: News: Latest news.
Nurses are not being provided with enough resources and support to cut MRSA "superbug" rates, a new survey suggests. Research conducted by the Nursing Times (NT) found that the majority of nurses want more access to resources in order to deliver improvements in hygiene and infection control The NT has unveiled a major new campaign, Keep It Clean: back nurses to fight infection, which aims to bring together trust managers, visitors, patients and other NHS staff in tackling hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The survey of 2,000 nurses discovered that "around three out of four nurses do not have access to 24-hours a day, seven days a week cleaning services", while more than a quarter of nurses describe the cleaning services where they work as 'poor' or 'very poor' ". Less than half of the nurses questioned had facilities at their workplace to change in and out of their uniforms and more than three-quarters said they could not get their uniforms washed at an in-house laundry. A further third of nurses reported that bins and sharps containers are allowed to overflow, and two out of five nurses claim they do not have enough time to clean beds, lockers, and change curtains before new patients arrive on the ward.
Continue reading "Nurses speak out on factors that hamper MRSA control" »
Link: this is hull and east riding
HOSPITAL nurses who wear jewellery at work or their uniforms in public could face disciplinary action in a drive to tackle the MRSA superbug. The Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust wants to halve cases of MRSA. The trust says patients have expressed concern about nurses wearing watches, necklaces and dangly earrings while working on wards. The trust has also received complaints from the public about nurses wearing uniforms while shopping in supermarkets. Now, managers at the trust are promising to get tough with nurses in a bid to prevent germs being spread on wards. The trust had 102 cases of the potentially deadly MRSA bug last year, a rise from 75 the previous year. Now, the Government has ordered the trust to reduce the number of cases by 60 per cent, to 41 by 2008.
Link: Investor's Business Daily
Ahlstrom, a leader in high performance fiber-based materials serving niche markets worldwide, has launched a new Web site designed to provide information to the medical industry about infection control and the fabrics that help keep medical personnel safe.
Viralbarrier.com includes the latest information on international government standards for medical protective apparel and drapes, plus links to articles from industry trade publications and medical journals on the topic of infection prevention and control. In addition, noted infection control authority Dr. Donald Fry of the University of New Mexico Medical Center has agreed to respond to questions that visitors to the site can pose.
sundaymail -
DOCTORS are being ordered to tuck in their ties to stop the spread of killer MRSA. New NHS guidelines have labelled the neckwear a major hygiene risk. Experts say they harbour massive amounts of germs, including the deadly MRSA bug. But victims of MRSA say such measures are only a fraction of what needs to be done. And one, colourful laird Count Robin de la Lanne Mirrlees, says doctors should be banned from wearing ties entirely. He believes he was infected by the medics' ties when he was in Hammersmith Hospital, London, being treated for a stroke in February.
HighWire -- Medline Abstract
A study has been carried out at a large teaching hospital to estimate how often the gloves of a healthcare worker are contaminated with MRSA after contact with a colonized patient. The effectiveness of handwashing procedures to decontaminate the health professionals' hands was also investigated, together with how well different healthcare professional groups complied with handwashing procedures. The study showed that about 17% (9-25%) of contacts between a healthcare worker and a MRSA-colonized patient results in transmission of MRSA from a patient to the gloves of a healthcare worker. Different health professional groups have different rates of compliance with infection control procedures. Non-contact staff (cleaners, food services) had the shortest handwashing times. In this study, glove use compliance rates were 75% or above in all healthcare worker groups except doctors whose compliance was only 27%.
This is the extract. You can buy the whole article at the Medline site
Infections in elderly bed-bound nursing home patients are serious care problems. In order to protect against infections we adopted bactericidal clothes (Sanmo Co., Kyoto, Japan). First, we studied how bactericidal clothes sterilise bacteria in vitro. The bactericidal clothes kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), E. Coli, Krebsiella and Pseudomonas aureus, over 99%, 3 h after contact, while these bacteria can survive over 18 h on conventional cotton clothes. Second, ninety elderly patients were divided into two groups; the control group and the "treated" group with bactericidal clothes. In Period 1 neither group received particular treatment for three months and in Period 2 only the treated group used bactericidal clothes for three months. The control group in Period 2 used regular clothes throughout. The number of febrile days was significantly lower for the treated group, compared with the control group. It is suggested that the bactericidal clothes reduce infections in elderly patients.
HighWire -- Medline Abstract
MRSA rocketed among SARS patients. Respitory issues are said by some researchers to be a major factor in MRSA spread. This study concluded that staff clothing was also a factor in the SARS/MRSA patient infections
BMJ
Given the part that antibiotics have played in fostering the emergence of resistant strains, it comes as something of a disappointment to learn that strict policies to limit their use are not enough to reverse the trend. Once MRSA has gained a foothold, there is, it seems, little correlation between its prevalence and the parsimonious use of antibiotics. Finland, the United Kingdom, and Italy all consume roughly the same amounts of these drugs, but they have big differences in the proportion of methicillin resistant isolates.
In short, while antibiotics do give the golden genie a selective advantage over its susceptible brethren once it has escaped its bottle, squeezing it back from whence it came depends principally on sustained efforts at preventing transmission. When it comes to regular hand washing, at least one survey has suggested that doctors are more blameworthy than nurses.
dailyrecord
A killer strain of MRSA has been blitzed with a compound called allicin, which is derived from bulbs of garlic. Dr Alistair Leanord, of Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, provided samples of cells taken from a woman who died in 2002 for trials. And Dr Ron Cutler, the man leading the tests, said his team found the cells had no resistance to allicin. He said: 'We were delighted to find allicin destroyed the cells.' A varnishing firm claim to have invented a solution which kills off the bacteria. Premier Finishes, in Northamptonshire, say just one coat of hygienilac on surfaces can keep killing MRSA for up to 15 years. And Yorkshire-based Acordis are trying to get NHS trusts to try out a fibre which can kill the bug if used to make hospital uniforms.
A short introduction from Dave Roberts
This 12 minute introduction will help you grasp the key facts and the key issues surrounding drug resistant staph aureus (mersa, mursa)
