MRSA Infection

Clean bill of health for hospital bosses (From Times Series)

Clean bill of health for hospital bosses (From Times Series).

Hygiene levels at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust have been praised by an independent health watchdog only 18 months after it was put on notice to improve. The trust was found to have been compliant with all four hygiene targets, or duties, assessed in the most recent round of inspections by the Healthcare Commission. The hospitals were judged on the quality of their management systems for: * infection prevention and control, * cleanliness, * isolation facilities and, * the administration of antibiotics. Trust chief executive Averil Dongworth said: “We are delighted to receive such a positive report from the Healthcare Commission. “This demonstrates the huge amount of progress we have made in the last 18 months.

MRSA Infections Continue To Fall, UK

MRSA Infections Continue To Fall, UK.

There were 725 MRSA bloodstream infections in England between July and September. This represents a 13% decrease on the previous quarter (April to June) when there were 837 cases and a 33% reduction in the corresponding quarter of 2007. This continued downward trend follows last quarter's achievement by the NHS of halving MRSA bloodstream infections across England. Health Minister Ann Keen said: "After achieving the target to halve MRSA bloodstream infections across England, I am delighted that the NHS has continued to raise its game by reducing infections even further. "Our strategy for tackling infection, including extra investment, tighter regulation and tough actions such as increasing the number of matrons to more than 5,000 and the bare below the elbows dress code to support hand hygiene are clearly having an impact. "But we will not stop there - one avoidable infection is one too many and we must go further. That is why we have set a target for the NHS to sustain this reduction in MRSA infections and deliver a 30% reduction in C. difficile in the next three years. We will also screen all relevant elective admissions for MRSA from April and are developing a national minimum standard for MRSA infection that all Trusts must meet."

York superbug cases decline

York superbug cases decline (From York Press).

CASES of a potentially fatal superbug have been slashed significantly at York Hospital following a sudden upsurge earlier this year. In July, The Press revealed that nine cases of MRSA had been reported at the Wigginton Road site between April and June – in comparison to only one case during the same period in 2007. Hospital bosses told The Press in July that patients were treated promptly in isolated bays and infection control practices had been tightened. Today, the latest figures from the Health Protection Agency have revealed the number of cases of MRSA fell to just two between July and September. With no further cases reported since then, York Hospital is now back on track to stay within the Government-set threshold of 16 cases between April 2008 and March 2009.

Birmingham hospitals praised for MRSA effort

Birmingham hospitals praised for MRSA effort - Birmingham Post.

Health watchdogs have praised the work of a Birmingham hospital trust in cutting the risk of superbugs from MRSA to clostridium difficile. The Healthcare Commission said it was impressed with Heart of England Foundation Trust after making unannounced inspections on its three hospitals, Heartlands, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield’s Good Hope. It is a boost for the trust, which has strived to improve infection control since being shamed in undercover exposes by the Birmingham Mail and BBC’s Panorama four years ago. Commission assessors had nothing put praise after visits on September 30 and October 1.

Hospital superbug cases on the rise in East Anglia

Hospital superbug cases on the rise - Fenland Today.

Cases of MRSA infections have been rising in East Anglia, bucking the national trend, new figures have shown. Data from the Health Protection Agency shows MRSA cases fell 13% nationally between July and September, with 725 cases. However, over the same period in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, the number of cases rose 35% to 27.

Infection control boss hailed by hospital

Infection control boss hailed by hospital (From St Albans & Harpenden Review).

A KEY manager who has helped beat MRSA and other lethal bugs has been namedEmployee of the Year by the trust which runs St Albans City and Watford General hospitals. Deputy director of infection control Frances Stratford won the accolade in the annual award scheme of the West Herts Hospitals Trust. Trust chairman Thomas Hanahoe said: "Staff and volunteers of the trust are the heartbeat of the organization and it is important that we recognise and celebrate their achievements. Every year we see a wide range of nominations, which have been submitted by our patients and staff, to recognise and celebrate the excellent work of both individuals and teams working in our hospitals.”

Superbug trust doubles salary in bid to hire boss

Superbug trust doubles salary in bid to hire boss.

Health chiefs are offering more than twice the usual salary in an effort to find a new boss for the hospital trust that was at the centre of a superbug scandal. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s former chair, James Lee, resigned shortly after the damning Healthcare Commission report into two Clostridium difficile outbreaks at the organisation’s hospitals. At least 90 patients died in the superbug outbreaks in 2005-06. In the report published last October the watchdog blamed management failings and poor infection control methods. George Jenkins, the chair of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust, is acting as interim chair but there have now been two unsuccessful attempts to find a permanent replacement. Salaries for chairs of acute hospital trusts are usually set by the Department of Health at between £18,164 and £23,020.

University Hospital of North Staffordshire avoids MRSA for two months

University Hospital of North Staffordshire avoids MRSA for two months.

STAFFORDSHIRE’S main hospital has passed its second successive month without a single case of MRSA. The achievement gives it its best performance since figures started being collected on the menace in the mid-1990s. It means 73 days have elapsed since the University Hospital of North Staffordshire treated its last patient for the superbug. And, to allay any fears of people needing an operation, it is six months since the last case was seen in its surgical division – traditionally a high risk area as it contains so many patients with open wounds which can be invaded by the bug.

Superbug rates drop at West Mid

Superbug rates drop at West Mid - Hounslow Chronicle.

Infection rates for superbugs Clostridium Difficile and MRSA have tumbled at West Mid in the first half of this year, according to a new report from the Department of Health. The latest figures, released last week, showed the number of C. Diff infections in patients aged over 65 has almost halved for the period from January to June, to a total of 71 cases, compared to 135 cases over the same period in 2007. The number of MRSA bacteraemia infections also fell by almost 40 per cent for the January 2008 and June 2008 period, to a total of 10 cases, compared to 16 cases in the same period in 2007. Director of infection control Dr May Kyi said: "This is a great result and compliments all the hard work staff and visitors have been doing towards combating Healthcare Associated Infections. We will continue with this hard work and promoting infection control across the Trust."

MRSA Success - No Cases In October , Cambridge University Hospitals

MRSA Success - No Cases In October , Cambridge University Hospitals NHS, England.

Addenbrooke's and the Rosie are winning the fight against infection. There were no incidents of MRSA bloodstream infection in October - a first for the Trust since records began four years ago. Overall, cases of MRSA are 41 per cent down. There have been 25 cases of MRSA bloodstream infection from January to October this year. In the same period for 2007, there were 42. Angela Thompson, Assistant Director of Nursing, said: "This is good news for patients, but it also highlights the hard work and commitment of staff at Addenbrooke's and the Rosie. "We strive to keep the number of cases dropping - all our staff are extra-vigilant with hygiene and hand-washing. Our deep cleaning programme ensures clinical areas are regularly cleansed while the recently launched Central Venous Access Team has also proved a great success in reducing infection.

Superbug figures 'a challenge' says hospital boss

Superbug figures 'a challenge' says hospital boss (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus).

Airedale Hospital needs to work hard to keep its total number of MRSA superbug infections to ten or less in this financial year, according to its head of planning and performance. Delivering the trust’s half-year review to board members, Stuart Shaw said the Steeton hospital had recorded five cases of MRSA since April this year. It has a target of acquiring no more than ten instances of this type of illness in a 12-month period. “We’re right on our limit,” said Mr Shaw. Trust chief executive Adam Cairns said: “I’m quite concerned about MRSA. These are small numbers but we face a significant challenge for the rest of this year keeping within the target limit of ten cases.” He said he felt the hospital had been “a bit unlucky”, pointing out that three of the five MRSA cases it had recorded had originally been acquired in the community.

Patients to be screened for MRSA

BBC NEWS | England | Nottinghamshire | Patients to be screened for MRSA.

Hospital patients in Nottinghamshire are to be screened for MRSA infections before undergoing surgery, health officials have confirmed. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said the aim was to try to stop the spread of superbugs. The screening is part of a new month-long infection control campaign that will also concentrate on hand hygiene and hospital cleanliness. Patients going into hospital for planned operations will be tested. Infection risks Caroline Trevithick, lead on infection control for NHS East Midlands, said: "It's not about the environment it's about the organisms that are on the skin of the patients.

Baby unit's swift action over MRSA

Baby unit's swift action over MRSA - Bury Free Press.

The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at West Suffolk Hospital has discovered two cases of MRSA on skin and is temporarily closed to new admissions from other hospitals. The Bury St Edmunds hospital found MRSA on the skin of two babies in the SCBU unit during routine screening of vulnerable patients on Tuesday.

Doctor’s fears over hospital’s MRSA rates

Doctor’s fears over hospital’s MRSA rates (From Warrington Guardian).

A SENIOR Warrington doctor has spoken of his concern over Warrington Hospital’s ‘miserable rate’ of MRSA infections. “MRSA is avoidable, controllable, deadly dangerous, destroys patients’ lives and their families,” said the doctor who asked to remain anonymous. “The hospital chief executive and her board – even though they are under political duress and pressure – should really pay serious attention to the Healthcare Commission’s report that has expressed serious concern about levels in Warrington Hospital,” he said. MRSA ruins lives and Warrington is a well-funded hospital yet its rate of infection is worse than other hospitals; something recognised by health watchdog the Healthcare Commission, the doctor added.

Bed occupancy problems in 145 hospitals

NHS (Bromley and Orpington): 28 Oct 2008: Westminster Hall debates (TheyWorkForYou.com).

Trusts with a bed occupancy rate higher than the Government's recommended optimum level of 85 per cent. had a much higher rate of both C. difficile and MRSA. Research suggests that in 145 NHS organisations the level is more than 85 per cent., and in some it is more than 95 per cent. The Minister is well briefed on the subject, so I am sure that he knows that Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust has had the highest level of overcrowding and capacity. That should be addressed in any action that is taken.

Full hospitals wards 'increasing MRSA risk'

Link: Hospital superbugs: Full hospitals wards 'increasing MRSA risk' - Telegraph.

Official figures reveal that more than 95 per cent of beds at some hospitals across Britain were filled last year. The national average, and recommended safe level, is 85 per cent. Among the highest rates for Primary Care Trusts were at George Eliot Hospital Trust, in Warwickshire, where the bed occupancy rates was 97.8 per cent, and Bath and North East Somerset PCT, where it was 97.1 in the 12 months to April this year. Experts warn that extra space is needed to deal with outbreaks of infection, such as the Norovirus, and that high levels of occupancy can lead to a rise in superbugs like MRSA. Average bed occupancy across the country remained steady at 85.3 per cent, the figures released by the Department of Health show.

Healthcare Associated Infections Down At Musgrove Park, UK

Link: Healthcare Associated Infections Down At Musgrove Park, UK.

Figures released show that MRSA and CDiff are significantly reducing at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. In the last five months (April - August 2008) there have been 3 MRSA blood stream infections in the hospital, compared with 9 in the same period last year. This shows a 12 month reduction of 67%. In the same five months this year there have been 28 post 48 hour CDiff isolates, compared with 36 last year. This shows a reduction of 22%. Medical Director Dr Cecil Blumgart "These figures show that we are continuing to make excellent progress in reducing healthcare associated infections at Musgrove Park. We have not had a case of an MRSA blood stream infection in the hospital for the past 139 days. This is good news for patients, visitors and staff. However, we are not complacent and will continue to prioritise efforts to further reduce the incidence of infections at the hospital".

Nurses warn MRSA battle not over in UK

Link: RCN Responds To New MRSA Figures From The Health Protection Agency.

"The RCN is very pleased that the hard work of nurses and their NHS colleagues in tackling healthcare acquired infections (HCAIs) is paying off in significantly reduced rates. By showing leadership and innovation on the wards, nurses have led the way in driving down MRSA rates, not just meeting, but exceeding the government target. "However, a sustained attack on MRSA and other HCAIs is required. It's absolutely vital that all trusts and government build on this progress by stepping up their efforts in tackling all infections. This means further investment in research to tackle infection and in training for key nursing positions such as ward managers and Infection Prevention and Control nurses working across the NHS. This is a matter of patient safety and must remain a top priority for government, trusts and healthcare workers."

Superbug outbreaks are reduced

Link: Superbug outbreaks are reduced : Express & Star:.

Cases of potentially life-threatening superbugs have been reduced, according to Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. It says there were two cases of MRSA - a bacteria which often lives harmlessly in the body but can cause blood poisoning, infections or even death - between April and June, down from 10 in the same period in 2007. There were 50 instances of C. difficile infections - a gut infection which can kill - during April and June, down from 130 during the same time span last year.

Winning the war on superbugs

Link: Winning the war on superbugs (From Watford Observer).

Superbugs linked to thousands of hospital deaths nationwide are close to being eradicated in Watford according to a leading doctor. Medical director of West Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Graham Ramsay, said staff had looked to hospitals in Scandinavia and The Netherlands for inspiration on how to wipe out the deadly bugs, moving towards a “search and destroy” policy. Isolation wards, control of antibiotics, regular screening and strict rules on staff uniform and hygiene were cited as being responsible for a 90 per cent decrease in cases of Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff) and a 50 per cent decrease in cases of MRSA, since Spring 2007. Professor Ramsay said: “We hope to virtually eradicate C.Diff. There will always be sporadic cases coming in but we have essentially stopped people picking it up in hospital because there is no transfer from one patient to another.”

Bucks had CRS infection control issues for 18 months

Link: E-Health Insider :: Bucks had CRS infection control issues for 18 months.

Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust was forced to develop workarounds for isolating MRSA patients after Cerner’s Millennium care records system was unable to cope with its superbug monitoring system for 18 months. In minutes obtained by E-Health Insider under the Freedom of Information Act, the trust’s National Programme for IT in the NHS programme board says infection control flagging was a problem throughout 2007. “The introduction of the care records system on the Wycombe and Amersham sites has continued to present some challenges for the infection control team. “These have mainly focused around the inability to remove any MRSA flags entered in error, the disappearing of the flag on the bed board when a patient moves wards/bed spaces and the intermittent omission of a yellow star against flagged patients in PowerChart. “Work has been undertaken across the domain with the help of the strategic health authority to agree a solution. A fix has been developed and implementation is planned for early April 2008,” the board reported.

Brave Ben beats bugs - News - Salford Advertiser

Link: Brave Ben beats bugs - News - Salford Advertiser.

Ben’s parents Ken, 46, and Rachel, 34, had already spent 10 years trying for a child, before Ben was born weighing just 1lb 10oz and carrying superbug MRSA. He battled against the illness and was released from hospital three months later. Ben, three, was diagnosed with suspected chickenpox by his GP but when he did not improve, he was taken into Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital where he was diagnosed with meningitis.

MRSA risks from IT failure

Link: Public Service - NPfIT causing disruption all over the NHS.

Minutes from the Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust said the problems meant potentially MRSA-infected patients were not isolated for up to 17 days. The problem was rectified manually with staff having to update the patient records manually. "This took approximately six weeks to do, during which time there was a possibility that some MRSA-positive patients may have slipped through undetected if medical notes had not been available," the minutes said. Stephen O'Brien, a Conservative health spokesman said the government is losing control of the project. "IT projects well implemented can be a huge benefit," he said. "Clearly from the problems being encountered by many trusts, the benefits are not being achieved and all the risks are falling on patients."

West Suffolk Hospital winning battle against infections

Link: West Suffolk Hospital winning battle against infections - Bury Free Press.

No new cases of MRSA have been recorded at West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, since December and the hospital has broken the trend in Suffolk for the number of Clostridium difficile (C.diff) cases. According to figures released by Suffolk Primary Care Trust, the number of C.diff cases across the county between April and May was 36 per cent above target – 93 cases against a target of 68, but there were just 21 cases at West Suffolk Hospital between April and June – around 22 per cent below a target of 27. Dr Caroline Barker, infection control doctor at West Suffolk Hospital, said: "These figures show that our rigorous infection control practices are working. However, we refuse to be complacent as one patient affected is one too many."

MRSA claims life of woman, 76, 10 days after knee op

Link: MRSA claims life of woman, 76, 10 days after knee op - Halifax Today.

A PENSIONER died after being struck down by the superbug MRSA. Phyllis Parish, 76, of Aireville Drive, Shelf, became ill 10 days after having a knee replacement at the Yorkshire Clinic in Bingley. At the Halifax inquest into her death, coroner Roger Whittaker said it was likely she picked up the bug after leaving hospital. But doctors told the hearing Mrs Parish would not have died if she had not had the operation. The coroner heard there was no sign of infection in her knee when she was discharged or when she attended a follow-up appointment. But on August 18, Mrs Parish was taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital by ambulance with pain in her forearm where a tube had been inserted in hospital. Her arm had become swollen, with pus leaking from the wound.

Hospital reprimand over MRSA

Link: The Comet - Concern at the number of MRSA cases.

THE NHS Trust which runs Lister Hospital has recorded the highest rate of MRSA cases in the East of England and a governing health authority has said it is of "particular concern". The East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust recorded 11 cases of the superbug from April to June this year - more than double its target of no more than five for this period. Most of the 18 Trusts in the East of England recorded no more than three cases for this three-month period, with some recording none. In its quarterly performance report, the East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA) said: "All Trusts exceeding the year-to-date ceiling are of concern, however the number of cases in recent months at the East and North Hertfordshire Trust...is of particular concern." As a result, the SHA has made specific interventions, including the implementation of new leadership arrangements at the Trust. Chief executive of the Trust, Nick Carver, said: "As a region, hospitals in eastern England overall have the second lowest levels of MRSA in England. "As one of the largest NHS Trusts in the east of England, which has hospitals on four sites, it is hard to compare our performance with smaller, single site hospital Trusts. "That said, however, clearly we were not hitting our target. "The principal cause of the problem was May, when seven MRSA infections occurred. Since then we have redoubled our efforts, with just two infections in June - both of which were patients who transferred in from other hospitals with undiagnosed infections already. Thus far for July it looks like we may have no MRSA blood infections at all.

Hospital on target to stop superbugs

Link: Hospital on target to stop superbugs (From The Bolton News).

SUPERBUGS are being kept in check at the Royal Bolton Hospital. In the three months between April and July, there were just six cases of MRSA at the Royal Bolton Hospital. Department of Health bosses had set a target of no more than seven cases in that period, and 16 throughout the 12 months between April, 2008 and April, next year. Last year, there were 31 cases of MRSA at the Royal Bolton Hospital when there was a target of 16.

Burnley General Hospital wins MRSA battle - Burnley Express

Link: Burnley General Hospital wins MRSA battle - Burnley Express.

NO cases of the deadly superbug MRSA were reported at Burnley General Hospital in June. There is thought to be no sign of the bug in July either – meaning MRSA has been absent for more than 60 days.

Bradford | Hospitals clean-up to cost £3.7m

Link: BBC NEWS | UK | England | Bradford | Hospitals clean-up to cost £3.7m.

A hospital trust is spending millions of pounds tackling superbugs to avoid the possibility of stiff fines. Bradford's Royal Infirmary and St Luke's hospital in the city are having £3.7m pumped into cleaning measures and other initiatives to meet targets. Both hospitals have embarked on a "massive programme" of cleaning and screening to contain the MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C. diff) bugs. The annual targets are set by Bradford and Airedale Primary Care Trust. National targets were set in 2004 by the then Health Secretary John Reid to halve the number of cases of the superbug infections by March 2008.

Grandad married as he lay dying of MRSA bug (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Link: Grandad married as he lay dying of MRSA bug (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus).

The devastated wife of a man admitted to Bradford Royal Infirmary for routine surgery has told how they married at his hospital bedside only weeks before he died of the MRSA superbug. Gloria and Alan Beech exchanged vows in an emotional ceremony after doctors told them there was nothing they could do to save him. Part-time taxi driver Mr Beech, 67, had initially been admitted for a minor operation to ease bad circulation in his left leg and he was sent home afterwards to recover. But four weeks later, following complications when the leg became infected with gangrene, he returned to the hospital where surgeons said there was no other choice but to amputate. It was only after the amputation that test results revealed that Mr Beech had contracted MRSA, said his wife.

Hospitals trust stays MRSA free

Link: BBC NEWS | UK | England | Lancashire | Hospitals trust stays MRSA free.

A NHS trust which runs two hospitals in Merseyside and Lancashire has been MRSA free since last year, figures show. Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust was one of seven non-specialist trusts in England to record no cases between December 2007 and March 2008. It is the fourth consecutive quarter in which the number of cases has fallen, and trust bosses say the trend has continued since April. The trust hailed the latest figures as "fantastic news".

Healthcare Associated Infections Down At Musgrove Park

Link: Healthcare Associated Infections Down At Musgrove Park.

Figures released today show that MRSA and CDiff are reducing at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. In the last three months there have been 3 MRSA blood stream infections in the hospital, compared with 8 in the same period last year. This shows a 12 month reduction of 62%. In the same three months this year there have been 16 post 48 hour CDiff isolates, compared with 23 last year. This shows a reduction of 30%.

Superbugs decreasing at L&D

Link: Superbugs decreasing at L&D - Bedford Today.

Deadly superbugs at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital are decreasing, according to the latest statistics. Figures released by the Health Protection Agency for January to March 2008 reveal that there was only one case of bloodstream infection MRSA at the hospital and 17 cases of the Clostridium Difficile infection (C Diff). And yesterday, the L&D revealed that between April and June the number of C Diff infections fell again to just 13 cases - a massive improvement on the same period last year that recorded 90 incidents of the infection. Hospital spokesman Barry Mayes said: "That is partly due to improvements in cleaning but we have introduced a way of prescribing antibiotics differently. C Diff is often an extreme reaction to antibiotics. So we have a procedure where we quickly identify what antibiotics the patient is on and change them or reduce the dose."

Hospital reports lowest MRSA rate

Link: BBC NEWS | UK | England | Surrey | Hospital reports lowest MRSA rate.

Extra infection control measures at a Surrey hospital have led to its lowest MRSA rates, a NHS trust has said. Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust had five cases of the superbug from October to March, but said only one patient caught it on a ward. It said it was the lowest six-monthly figure recorded by the trust and claimed it was the lowest figure from hospitals in the South East region.

Yorkshire hospitals achieve massive cut in MRSA cases

Link: Yorkshire hospitals achieve massive cut in MRSA cases - Yorkshire Post.

The Yorkshire Post can today reveal there were only 88 MRSA cases in the region from April to June – a reduction of 39 per cent from the same period in 2007 when there were 144 infections. If hospitals across the country achieve the same dramatic reduction, the Government will meet its much-heralded target to halve MRSA infections between 2004 and 2008. Final confirmation is not expected until the autumn when national figures are made public. There has been widespread scepticism Ministers will achieve their goal amid accusations tens of millions of pounds have been wasted on the deep clean programme, which was derided as a publicity stunt.

Hospital handed warning over rates of MRSA

Link: Hospital handed warning over rates of MRSA - ChronicleLive.

Although not seen as needing to be placed on the MRSA escalation process, it had some of the highest numbers of infections in the last quarter of 2007. A review by Monitor showed the Queen Elizabeth exceeded the number of MRSA cases by more than 33% in 2007/08, recording 32 against a target of 14 for the year. It also exceeded the target in the previous year. Numbers of cases in the first two months of this year remained “well in excess” of what was expected, according to the letter. The Chronicle has obtained a leaked copy of the letter by Monitor which says Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust appears to have made little progress in addressing the issue. It also says performance management and governance processes appear weak and focus seems to lack the urgency expected given the trust’s ongoing failure to make progress. It was stated there were areas where actions could have been taken earlier to reduce the number of cases – raising “a significant concern as to whether the trust has the necessary skills, leadership and resources employed to satisfactorily address this issue.”

MRSA Drops By 30% in UK Hospitals

Link: C diff infections rise by 6% - Yahoo! News UK.

The number of cases of superbug Clostridium difficile (C diff) has risen by 6 per cent but figures show an 11 per cent drop in MRSA infections. (Advertisement) The figures released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said there were 10,586 cases of C diff in patients aged 65 and over between January and March this year and 966 cases of MRSA. Annual figures showed a decline for both infections, with a 30 per cent drop in MRSA in the financial year 2007/08 compared with 2006/07. Dr Georgia Duckworth, head of the HPA's healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial resistance department, said: "The substantial drop we have seen in MRSA bloodstream infections over the past year is impressive and a credit to the hard work of our colleagues in the NHS, strengthening good practice in infection control. "If we are to continue this reduction in healthcare-associated infections it is vital that the measures which have won this significant success remain in place and that the public and healthcare workers recognise their importance." She continued: "Although there has been mandatory reporting of C difficile since 2004, this past year has seen major changes to improve the reporting system.

Record low MRSA in West Midlands’ hospitals

Link: Record low MRSA in West Midlands’ hospitals - Birmingham Mail.

HEALTH bosses have recorded among the lowest quarterly rates of superbug MRSA in the West Midlands for years, new figures reveal. NHS West Midlands health authority bosses were informed that there had been a three month rolling average of 36 cases at hospitals across Birmingham, Staffordshire, the Black Country and Worcestershire. Steve Allen, director of performance for the authority, said screening and other measures had helped make a headway into the problem, with many cases of MRSA brought into hospitals and not caught on the wards. He said there were a total of 29 cases of the potentially deadly hospital infection during April and 32 in May. “These are the lowest monthly totals in the West Midlands since we began monthly tracking,” said Mr Allen. “The level, as measured by the three month rolling average, is 60 per cent lower than the level two years ago.

'MRSA nearly killed me'

Link: BBC - Newsbeat - Health - 'MRSA nearly killed me'.

Twenty-four-year-old James Wollacott caught the hospital superbug MRSA in an NHS hospital five years ago, after being treated for a knee injury. Today he's stil recovering from the the infection and has great difficulty doing everyday activities. James has given Newsbeat an insight into how it feels to be struck down by the disease.

Click the link above

40% fear hospital infection

Link: BBC NEWS | Health | Public tolerant of 'nanny state'.

The BBC poll also found that the most common concern about hospital care was the risk of acquiring an infection, such as MRSA or Clostridium difficile. Four out of ten people surveyed listed the risk of infection as their biggest fear. However, 82% of respondants said they were proud of the health service, with half saying it was the envy of the world.

Four MRSA cases at hospital

Link: Four MRSA cases at hospital - Lancaster Today.

SPECIAL measures are being taken at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary after a worrying increase in MRSA cases. Four unconnected incidents were diagnosed at the RLI during May – a third of the projected annual rate for the whole of the University Hospitals of More-cambe Bay NHS Trust. The trust's director of nursing, Kay Gilbey, said several measures are no ADVERTISEMENT w being put in place to improve hygiene. "We are working with the Department of Health infection control team to review our systems, and also reviewing infection screening for patients," she said. "We are looking at reviewing the level of screening pre-admission and the feasibility of introducing new tests.

Hospital accussed of MRSA cover up

Link: Harrow Times: News: Regional News.

THE DAUGHTER of a pensioner who had a leg amputated says she found out her mother had MRSA by accident and claims staff repeatedly denied she had the bug. Susan Lyons, 49, has accused staff at Chase Farm Hospital of lying about her 76-year-old mother having MRSA and repeatedly withholding crucial medical information. Mavis Ward's left leg was amputated below the knee because of a blood clot last September. advertisement But soon afterwards the wound became infected and, according to her daughter, she was wrongly asked to give consent by a doctor for a second amputation to remove her knee the following month, despite being on a considerable amount of medication. Ms Lyons says she only found out about the MRSA infection when, two months later, she claims a nurse said in passing "once we got rid of the MRSA (Mrs Ward) was really doing well".

NHS trust ordered to meet MRSA target

Link: NHS trust ordered to meet MRSA target (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus).

Health watchdog Monitor has warned hospital trusts – including Bradford – they must start to meet tough MRSA performance targets this year. The independent regulator of foundation trusts said failure to achieve the targets is the responsibility of the foundation trust board and will be considered as a potential reflection of poor governance at a trust. Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital, was one of 36 foundation trusts across the country which breached their full year MRSA target in the year 2007-8. The trust recorded a total of 47 cases of MRSA – 29 more than their target of 18.

Healthcare Commission Issues Hygiene Code Improvement Notice To Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust

Link: Healthcare Commission Issues Hygiene Code Improvement Notice To Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust.

Trust failing over mattress cleaning and decontamination of equipment at Ashford Hospital The Healthcare Commission announced that it has issued an improvement notice to the Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust, requiring changes to its infection control practices. The Commission found the trust was in breach of the hygiene code, which sets out 11 mandatory duties for NHS trusts to reduce and control healthcare-associated infections.

London hospital misses MRSA target

Link: Boss We Are Addressing The Problem (from Harrow Times).

The organisation did not do enough to protect patients from infectious diseases, such as the super bug MRSA, which can spread while they are receiving care. Its clinics saw 33 outbreaks of the virus last year, 50 per cent more than the government target. It also fell short of expectations in decontamination of medical equipment and did not provide a sufficiently safe environment for patients. In total it failed in 11 areas, there was not enough information to judge whether it had passed in another two and was initially failing in a third but managed to turn its performance around by March, when the assessment period ended. The trust could not say whether it had met the grade in treating patients, relatives and carers with dignity and respect. Similarly, it could not claim to meet the required standard in equality of access to services. Its risk management was initially ranked as inadequate but later improved. Barry Gardiner, (Lab) MP for Brent North, said: "I think they've given themselves a very tough assessment.

1% are MRSA carriers in UK

Link: HighWire Press -- Medline Abstract.

This study aimed to identify all Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cases on a Regional Maxillofacial ward, to estimate incidence and to ascertain who were most at risk. The study also explored clinical and demographic factors associated with MRSA in a subset of consecutive patients managed by primary surgery for previously untreated oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OOSCC) over the same time period. Patients admitted from 1st April 2001 to 31st March 2006 to the Regional Maxillofacial Unit ward, Liverpool were identified by a retrospective review of the hospital MRSA database and there were 10109 patient admissions. MRSA (1.1%) occurred in 115 patient episodes involving 97 patients. There were 84 patients having a single episode and 13 more than one. There were no cases of mortality due to MRSA. Of the MFU patients 73 were oncology and 7 trauma. In the oncology group the commonest primary sites were wound (41) and sputum (11). Of new patients admitted for definitive treatment for OOSCC, 14% had MRSA and the two main risk factors were stage of cancer (P<0.001) and free flap (P<0.001). The risk of MRSA infection on our maxillofacial ward is low though MRSA infection is more prevalent among oncology patients particularly those requiring free tissue transfer. Careful adherence to infection prevention and control precautions is essential and practical methods to reduce MRSA need further evaluation.

North west Hospitas to Screen for MRSA

Link: North West Evening Mail.

Director of nursing for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, Kay Gilbey, said: “The Department of Health looked at everything we did with infection control. “They looked at the level of testing and screening of patients both pre-admission and within the hospital.” The trust recently spent £273,000 investing in cleaning and maintenance. Staff now have to be “bare below the elbow” and hand hygiene audits are completed on a weekly basis. But the best defence against MRSA is preventing it entering the building in the first place. That is what the trust is trying to achieve by isolating infected patients. More single rooms have been introduced during an upgrade of Ward 6, which re-opens next month. Mrs Gilbey added: “When Ward 6 reopens, it will give us an increased number of single rooms to operate a separate cohorting and isolation of patients. There has been an increase in hospital acquired infections for the trust since the beginning of April. “In response we’re working very hard and looking at a whole range of responses to ensure the range of infections are reduced. We have 95,000 admissions each year and a very small number have infections.

Infection rates trouble patients

Link: NHS at 60: What patients really want - Telegraph.

A survey for the Patients Association found infection rates and shortages of staff in hospitals were the most serious concern for 60 per cent of patients. Over the past decade, the number of deaths linked to MRSA has risen fivefold, with latest figures showing the superbug was mentioned on 1,652 death certificates in 2006. Deaths linked to C. difficile have risen even faster, with 6,480 in the same year.

Row over Conquest's MRSA-free claim

Link: Row over Conquest's MRSA-free claim - Hastings Today - Back to Home Page.

A widow whose husband died from MRSA at the Conquest has hit out at claims the hospital is free of the superbug. Marion Ham, whose husband David died aged 60 in October 2006, has rejected East Sussex Hospital Trust's statement that no cases of MRSA have been recorded at either the Conquest or Eastbourne District General Hospital in the last three months. "This is completely and utterly untrue," she said. Mrs Ham, whose husband was a special constable in the Hastings area for 15 years, has criticised the trust's policy to only record MRSA cases if the bug is found in the patient's blood. "The Government, through the Department of Health instructs trusts to, it seems, only record blood borne MRSA. "Yet MRSA attacks tissue, organs and joints without mercy and doesn't always show in blood cultures. "Because of recording practices, it took me seven months hard effort to get MRSA recorded on my husbands death certificate. Why should I have had to fight the system to get justice at a time when my grief could have enveloped me?"

Pacemaker baby survives MRSA horror - icWales

Link: Pacemaker baby survives MRSA horror - icWales.

A MOTHER whose baby son contracted MRSA after becoming one of the UK’s youngest pacemaker patients was today celebrating his return home. Three-month-old Liam King was fitted with the device to regulate his heartbeat when he was five days old after a congenital heart block was detected while he was still in the womb. Liam, from Blaenau Gwent, South Wales, was then left fighting for his life when MRSA infected his pacemaker wound. Doctors at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children removed the device last month and fitted another on the opposite side of his chest. The operation was a success and Liam was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, last Tuesday. He was deemed well enough to return home last night.