Link: Superbug battle criticised by scientist.
The Government’s attempts to tackle the MRSA superbug have been criticised by a leading scientist.
Dr Mark Enright said efforts to raise basic standards of hospital hygiene were likely to have a limited effect on MRSA infection rates.
He claimed proven measures for reducing MRSA infection rates had been overlooked as a result.
Dr Enright, from the University of Bath, said more extreme action – such as isolating patients with MRSA infections – should be adopted if the Government was serious about bringing the MRSA epidemic in the UK to an end.
He said he believed these measures were overlooked, despite the scientific evidence that support them, because of the associated increase in costs and potential impact on the controversial topic of waiting lists.
"There ought to be fewer MRSA infections in clean hospitals yet surprisingly there is little scientific evidence for this," said Dr Enright, an expert on the evolution and epidemiology of MRSA and a Royal Society Research Fellow.
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After corpodyst visit, my mother in law bleeding in booth heels, but few days after getting infection for one.
At this time she goes one time to Alexandra Day hospital, for mental research and twice a week to Day Care.
We firstly were a report to Alexandra Day hospital, but they were sent ours for GP.
GP prescribed antibiotic, and then other one and other one and so.
In middle time I was an again complainer to Alexandra Hospital and Day Care, but booth ignore me.
After few months, doctor sent to ours District Nurse to take swap.
From this time we have a twice a day district nurses in ours house.
After few weeks of visiting by District nurses, my mother in law start complain for second heel. After examination leg, nurse found new one infection.
Results from swap coming after long weeks and was: MRSA positive in one leg, because at this time was only one leg.
She still attends to Day Care.
I also ask haw many people my mother in law was infected and can is safe for other old persons if she going to Day Care?
Mariola.
The explanation of how clean hospitals have high rates of infection was given quite eloquently at the conference organised by UNISON on 13 January. A substantial contingent of ladies with an average of 35 years’ service as cleaners of NHS hospitals under both the in-house and contracted-out systems, reported that approximately one week’s warning was given of an impending inspection. All efforts were then directed to those areas due for inspection with a resultant good local result, to the short term detriment of other areas and giving the biased result of no difference in infection rate, regardless of apparent hygiene standards.
The same ladies corroborated Polly Toynbee’s comparison of hospital cleaning in 1971 and 2001 which concluded that there has been a net loss in every respect over the last 30 years. Fewer cleaners earning lower wages and higher rates of hospital infection.
One of the links to this article is from the Lancet on 7 January 7 which concluded that isolation is ineffective in reducing MRSA infection. I made this point in my post onto the forum on November 2 2004. James was on an open ward and being treated with paracetamol for four days before tests were ordered, three days before the tests were returned positive and it was only then he was moved into isolation. How many people had he already infected?
I think the majority view is not to isolate MRSA victims quickly but to prevent any MRSA victims as a first step.