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

OAP scared off hospital visits after MRSA infection and overdose

OAP scared off hospital visits after infections and overdose | The Sun |Home Scotland|Scottish News.

A CANCER sufferer is too terrified to go to hospital after suffering two deadly infections and a drugs overdose in three visits - over just TWO years. Pensioner Robert Wilson, 66, contracted C.difficile, he was wrongly given diazepam and then got MRSA. And last night furious daughter Janie Wilson, 45, blasted medical chiefs, saying: "How much is a person supposed to take? "My dad is absolutely terrified. He's at the point now where he thinks if he goes into hospital again he might never come out."

Patient with MRSA infection dies

Link: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Patient with MRSA infection dies.

A patient infected with MRSA at the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen has died, it has emerged. The hospital has been forced to close one of its wards to try to contain the outbreak. Another patient is infected with MRSA, while eight were identified as carrying the disease. Two others have been discharged. The Western Trust said MRSA was not the main cause of death in the case of the patient who died.

Study shows how hospital cuts MRSA rates

Link: Modelling the impact of antibiotic use and infection control practices on the incidence of hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a time-series analysis -- Aldeyab et al., 10.1093/jac/dkn198 -- Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

Results: Analysis of the 5 year data set showed that temporal variations in MRSA incidence followed temporal variations in the use of fluoroquinolones, third-generation cephalosporins, macrolides and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (coefficients = 0.005, 0.03, 0.002 and 0.003, respectively, with various time lags). Temporal relationships were also observed between MRSA incidence and infection control practices, i.e. the number of patients actively screened for MRSA (coefficient = –0.007), the use of alcohol-impregnated wipes (coefficient = –0.0003) and the bulk orders of alcohol-based handrub (coefficients = –0.04 and –0.08), with increased infection control activity being associated with decreased MRSA incidence, and between MRSA incidence and the number of new patients admitted with MRSA (coefficient = 0.22). The model explained 78.4% of the variance in the monthly incidence of MRSA. Conclusions: The results of this study confirm the value of infection control policies as well as suggest the usefulness of restricting the use of certain antimicrobial classes to control MRSA.

Hospitals to reduce visitor hours

Link: BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | Hospitals to reduce visitor hours.

Acute hospitals in the Southern Health Trust are to reduce visiting hours in a bid to reduce infection. Health Minister Michael McGimpsey launched the initiative at Craigavon Area Hospital on Friday. Newry's Daisy Hill Hospital will also be affected. The number of visitors admitted to see each patient is also to be restricted. The trust hopes the policy will reduce the number of infections, especially those caused by so-called superbugs like MRSA and C-Difficile.

Superbugs claim the lives of 427 patients in Ulster

Link: Superbugs claim the lives of 427 patients in Ulster - Health - Belfast Telegraph.

Two of the deadliest hospital superbugs have helped cause the deaths of at least 427 patients in Northern Ireland over the past five years, it was revealed last night. The serious threat of hospital- acquired infections was underlined by new Government figures which detail how many deaths have been officially registered as linked to MRSA and Clostridium Difficile since 2002.

Hospitals must do more to beat superbugs

Link: Hospitals must do more to beat superbugs: MLA - Health - Belfast Telegraph.

A Stormont health committee member last night urged hospitals to improve basic hygiene levels in a bid to wipe out MRSA on our wards. SDLP health spokeswoman Carmel Hanna said "not enough is being done" to properly tackle potentially lethal superbugs such as MRSA. She was speaking as the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen was last night monitoring levels of MRSA on one of its wards which had to be closed after the infection was detected. The elderly care ward was closed on Monday after it was discovered that ten of the patients were carrying the multi-drug resistant bug. Those infected with the organism were not ill with MRSA but were found to have it present and so were a risk to other patients. People being looked after in the 36-bed ward remained there last night while those carrying the infection were treated in isolation.

Erne Hospital Closes Ward On MRSA Fear

Link: Northern Irish News - Erne Hospital Closes Ward On MRSA Fear.

The Enniskillen hospital has closed the ward to new admissions as the elderly patients are closely monitored. A spokeswoman for the Western Health and Social Care Trust has said that all the necessary precautions were being taken and that it is not yet clear whether the patients caught the MRSA infection at the hospital. Barrier nursing procedures have been put in place and the patients have been isolated for further monitoring. Marion Martin, the infection control nurse at the hospital, said that patients were sometimes infected with MRSA before they are admitted and that’s why the precautions have been put in place.

Hospital Cleanliness in N Ireland

Link: House of Commons debates (TheyWorkForYou.com).

What steps are being taken to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness in hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Click the link above for the detailed response

MRSA virus may have been passed by nurses

Link: Newry Democrat: MRSA virus may have been passed by nurses.

     AN MRSA victim who died after spending months in hospital may have contracted the super-bug from the hands of his nursing staff, an inquest has heard. Dr Michael Rothburn, an independent infectious diseases expert, claimed a lapse in hygiene by staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast was the most likely cause of a disease which left the victim fighting for life. Brendan McDowell, 43, from Mullartown Heights, Annalong, died in February 2004 after suffering multi-organ failure which his family has linked with hospital-acquired infections. Dr Rothburn said: “The likely mechanism of spread was from one to another patient by another healthcare worker, hence, an unidentified lapse of hand hygiene by hospital staff probably resulted.”

MRSA charges dominate Belfast inquest

Link: RTE News

    An inquest in Belfast has been dominated by the issue of how hospitals deal with the MRSA bug. The widow of a man in his 40s, who was infected while undergoing treatment for back injuries and later died, has alleged hospital staff ignored her warnings about the conditions in which he was being treated. Brendan McDowell, a 43-year-old construction worker from Co Down, was seriously injured in December 2003 when part of a building he was demolishing fell on him.

Man begged not to be returned to MRSA ward

Link: Belfast Telegraph.

     A 42-year-old man who died a "horrific death" after contracting MRSA begged not to be returned to the ward where he was first diagnosed with the killer bug, his inquest has been told. Brendan McDowell, a self employed digger operator, was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast in December 2003 after he was injured at work. On the first day of his inquest, a doctor who treated him said results of tests pointed to the fact that he contracted the superbug while in the hospital.

MRSA riskier 'in NI's busy wards'

Link: BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | MRSA riskier 'in NI's busy wards'.

     Overcrowding in Northern Ireland hospitals is leading to an increased risk of the potentially fatal infection MRSA, according to a new study. It suggests half of NI's surgical wards have been exceeding the UK's overcrowding guidance limit. It said half of NI's surgical wards examined between 2003-2004 had a percentage bed occupancy greater than the UK recommended limit of 82%. All 11 medical facilities in NI Trusts had occupancy rates greater than 85%. The University of Ulster study is published in the British Journal of Nursing. It also found that the time between one patient leaving a bed and another patient using it may be as little as 72 minutes. The study goes on to say that with waiting lists and waiting times being longer in Northern Ireland than in other part of the UK, the higher the level of bed occupancy means there is a higher risk of being infected by MRSA.

CJD Man's Dad Gagged over MRSA

Link: News Letter .

The father of the Ulsterman who has bravely fought CJD for over four years cannot believe the treatment that he is receiving from his hospital. Jonathan Simms' family, from the Shankill area of Belfast, first had to fight in the courts to get the controversial treatment that has made him the longest survivor of the fatal disease and now they are in court again because of his hospital. His father, Don, has been gagged by a High Court order, preventing him naming the Northern Ireland hospital where he is being treated but he has revealed that his son has contracted the MRSA virus twice and meningitis once whilst being treated. Jonathan is now 21.

Matrons Needed To Fight Superbugs - MLA

Link: News Letter - Matrons Needed To Fight Superbugs - MLA.

A matronly approach to ward cleanliness could lend more power to the elbow in the hospital battle against superbugs, according to the Ulster Unionist Party's health spokesman. Robert Coulter MLA is calling for the reintroduction of " oldfashioned hospital matrons" to combat the growing superbug crisis. He made his appeal for the return of ward matron powers for senior nurses in hospitals while addressing the party's South Lurgan branch AGM in the Upper Bann constituency. The North Antrim Assemblyman described measures undertaken so far to curb the scourge of MRSA and other superbugs as "hand-holding exercises". "Naming and shaming hospitals, bringing in foreign experts, having spot checks every three months and encouraging patients to speak out if they observe any examples of lack of cleanliness are all very well," said Mr Coulter.

Revised strategy launched to help fight infections

Link: Revised strategy launched to help fight infections.

A new strategy to help fight infections acquired in hospitals across Northern Ireland was launched today at the Mater Hospital. Healthcare associated infections, such as MRSA can prolong a patient’s stay in hospital or in some cases can cause death. The strategy includes plans for an annual infection reduction plan, a hand hygiene campaign, and mandatory training for all healthcare staff.

No death code for MRSA

Link: Mrsa: 5 Apr 2005: Written answers (TheyWorkForYou.com).

Nigel Dodds (Belfast North, DU) Hansard source
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years have been attributed to MRSA; and what guidelines are used in recording the numbers of deaths in which MRSA has been a factor.

Ian Pearson (Dudley South, Lab) Hansard source
The numbers of deaths where Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was mentioned on the death certificate in Northern Ireland, for the registration years 1999–2003, are given in the table as follows. Number of deaths in Northern Ireland with MRSA mentioned on the death certificate by registration year 1999–2003

Registration year Death certificate mentioned MRSA
1999 13
2000 14
2001 16
2002 25
2003 30

Total (1999–2003) 98

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is used to classify cause of death and the current version of ICD does not have a specific code for MRSA. The statistics reported in the table have been obtained by identifying all deaths with ICD codes likely to be linked with MRSA, and checking the relevant death certificates for mention of MRSA.

MRSA infection growing in N Ireland

Link: BBC NEWS

The MRSA superbug has played a part in 116 deaths in Northern Ireland in the past seven years, figures have shown. Nearly three quarters of those deaths occurred in the over-75 age group. A study by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre also showed that levels of infection found in hospitals had risen. More than 300 cases were discovered among patients in the last 12 months, compared just under 500 cases reported between 2001 and 2003. The centre, based at Belfast City Hospital, used episodes of bloodstream infection to show the scale of infection. Its study found a 35% rise from the first year of examining the bug and a 41% jump from 12 months ago, when levels dipped slightly. Dr Doherty added: "It is clear from these figures that some parts of the health service have to do more to control this threat and match the achievements of hospitals which maintain low MRSA levels. "It is an important reminder that everyone needs to keep infection control at the top of their agenda." Patients on intensive care units and on surgical wards are among the most vulnerable to the bug.

Veteran Politician denounces MRSA 'shambles'

Belfast Telegraph
A veteran Ulster politician revealed today how he endured a 10-month battle against the lethal superbug MRSA.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass also demanded the urgent setting up of a team of MRSA troubleshooters to sort out the growing menace in our hospitals. His call comes after figures revealed that MRSA contributed to the deaths of 116 patients in Northern Ireland over the last seven years. Lord Maginnis said he had been "incapacitated" for 10 months after being struck down by the feared superbug following a "simple" operation on his leg. He said specialist troubleshooters were needed to sort out not only the MRSA problem but other difficulties in a current health service "shambles".

MRSA closes Ward

Sunday Life
A cancer ward at Belfast City Hospital had to be shut down for six days, following an outbreak of a stomach bug and a rise in MRSA cases, it has been revealed. The City's new 'rapid response' cleaning team was sent to decontaminate the area, following the outbreak.
The 'rapid response' team is one of a number of new measures introduced in the war against MRSA at the City, which also includes the banning of flowers from wards.

MRSA deaths 'of great concern'

BBC'
The MRSA superbug has played a part in 116 deaths in Northern Ireland in the past seven years, figures have shown. Nearly three quarters of those deaths occurred in the over-75 age group. A study by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre also showed that levels of infection found in hospitals had risen. More than 300 cases were discovered among patients in the last 12 months, compared just under 500 cases reported between 2001 and 2003.