Trust ‘winning war’ on bugs (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Trust ‘winning war’ on bugs

8:43am Friday 2nd February 2007 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

HEALTH bosses in Winchester say they are winning the battle against superbugs, according to figures released by the Government.

On Tuesday, the Government released data on how many patients had developed MRSA or Clostridium Difficile (C.diff) in Britain.

The former is resistant to antibiotics, and the latter surfaces because of them, making both illnesses tricky to treat.

Government figures show Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust is reducing the number of cases.

The trust runs the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and the Andover War Memorial Hospital.

Between July and September 2006, the most recent sample period, the trust recorded 36 cases of C.diff. In the three months beforehand, it had 40 cases, and the national average stands at 56.

The trust also recorded three cases of MRSA, the same as before, but that is 50 per cent below the UK benchmark.

The Government has now given the trust £300,000 to keep infections to a minimum.

The cash will be spent on replacing curtains in one ward with more hygienic blinds, and installing automatic light fittings instead of pull cords.

A macerator, which mashes up' disposable bedpans, is also on the shopping list.

Trust chief executive, Chris Evennett, said: "We are delighted with this investment which will help us make improvements in the future and maintain our track record on infection control.

"We are not relying on this alone. Our medical and nursing staff continue to work closely with our housekeeping teams to minimise the risk of infection."

The trust already asks visitors to wash their hands before and after seeing patients, and to stay away if they feel unwell.

However, it has not adopted the stricter measures in place at Southampton General Hospital, which are designed to cut diarrhoea cases.

Visitor numbers there are being limited, and they are being told not to take along pot plants or unwrapped food.

Mr Evennett added: "Visitors should remember that they can bring bugs in too, so good hand hygiene is vital.

"Also, we welcome feedback from visitors and patients so they shouldn't hesitate to tell us if they see areas or equipment that aren't as clean as they should be."