|
|
|
ON May 23rd, 2008, the French Ministry of Health launched a national hand cleanliness campaign targeting health care workers, patients, and the general public. The campaign emphasizes that proper hand hygiene is the key element in preventing and controlling nosocomial infections.
It is critical that a through cleansing of one’s hands with a liquid alcohol solution containing an emollient to protect the skin precedes all health care treatments, no matter where they are carried out. All health care establishments throughout the country should see to it that these solutions are available at patient’s bed. Health care workers would also be required to carry a small bottle of disinfectant in the pockets of their uniform. |
|
Read more...
|
|
Home
|
MRSA INFECTIONS: THE SITUATION IN GREAT BRITAIN |
E-mail
|
|
Written by Christine Besson
|
|
Sunday, 20 April 2008 |
|
A recent study published in December 2007 by the British Journal of Surgery demonstrated that quick detection of MRSA carrying patients – within two hours of admission – significantly reduces the infection rate.
In 2006, the University College London Hospital (UCLH) administered a quick nasal test for MRSA to 18,810 patients admitted for surgery and discovered that 4.5% of them were carriers. These patients were then treated with a topical antibiotic that reduced MRSA cases by 38.6%. That year, the UCHL was able to save 545,400 Sterling Pounds in overall costs and a net savings of 242,900 Pounds. The UCLH plans to extend these early detection measures to all patients. In addition to having already launched several hand cleanliness campaigns, the UCHL is the first British hospital to use anti-bacterial computer keyboards.
Great Britain has one of the highest MRSA infection rates (45%) in Europe and the British government intends to reduce that rate by half in 2005. Unfortunately, the latest official statistics released by the Health Protection agency in 2007 revealed that the infection rate had only been reduced by 20%. The Health Act (2006) stipulates that hospitals must detect MRSA cases before patients are admitted. Contaminated patients must then be quarantined and treated in order to decontaminate them.
|
|
