MRSA screening

October 18, 2008

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Publicservice.co.uk the information portal for the public sector report on the universal screening for MRSA.

They write “With a quarter of NHS bodies failing to meet basic standards of infection control, the chief inspector of infection control, Professor Brian Duerden, inspector of microbiology and infection control at the Department of Health, outlines the challenges of introducing universal screening for all patients and the benefits that will come from it”.

Professor Duerden writes “The three year programme on prevention and control of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection has had a major impact on healthcare associated infections (HCAI) in the NHS. The very challenging target to halve the number of MRSA bacteraemias (bloodstream infections) by April-June 2008, which many thought to be impossible, was achieved, with the figures published in September showing a 57% reduction. However, we must not rest on this achievement; it is clear that MRSA infections can be reduced further and the pressure must be kept up for continued improvement”.

Click here for the full item on publicservice.co.uk