No MRSA cases in past two months (From Warrington Guardian)

No MRSA cases in past two months

7:40am Tuesday 29th July 2008

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NO cases of superbug MRSA have been found at Warrington Hospital in the past two months.

And in June there were just 12 patients with Colostridium difficile, compared with 50 last June.

Currently there are five patients in a special C-diff cohort ward which has beds for 23.

The figures suggest that the hospital is beating infections and superbugs, and while bosses admit that one case is one too many, the numbers are falling.

“We really believe the cohort ward has made a big difference,” Kathryn Holbourn, director of nursing and governance told the trust board at a meeting on Wednesday.

Work around screening for MRSA had led to plans to ensure pre-operative patients bathe in skin agent before operations to minimise the risk of infections, the meeting was told.

MRSA bacteria can get into open wounds like operation sites, so disinfection is important, Mrs Holbourn said. So far this year there have been five cases of MRSA and 42 of C-diff.

The yearly targets from April to April are for 12 cases of MRSA and 312 of C-diff.

Hospital bosses have put a large focus on handwashing, installing movement-triggered boxes above alcohol handrub that tell patients to wash their hands.

In the C-diff cohort ward the focus is on soap and water, which is more effective in preventing C-diff than alcohol rub.

GP’s are to be educated on better anti-biotic prescription techniques in an effort to cut C-diff levels.

C-diff is caused by bacteria in the gut becoming stronger if a patient does not complete a course of anti-biotics.

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