6:43am Thursday 8th May 2008
WINCHESTER'S Royal Hampshire County Hospital claims it has discovered a new way to help fight the spread of hospital infections.
A doctor and nursing sister at the Romsey Road hospital have found a "simple" way to cut MRSA rates, which could have national implications.
Since a change in policy was introduced at the hospital six months ago, there have been no new cases of the deadly superbug.
Now Dr Chris Gordon, consultant physician and divisional director of medicine at Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust, believes it could slash infection rates and save lives in hospitals across the UK.
It involves better management of what is called a cannula, a thin tube inserted by needle under the skin to administer intravenous fluids.
The trust, which runs the RHCH and Andover War Memorial Hospital, reported 11 cases of MRSA in 2007/8. Four of the cases, a third, were linked to cannulae.
Dr Gordon said: "It is well known that cannulae can cause bloodstream infections such as MRSA which is why we were so keen to make these changes.
"If we can prevent these, we can reduce our bloodstream infections by a third.
"If all trusts did that, just imagine what the national picture would be."
Around 5,000 people picked up MRSA bloodstream infections in the UK last year.
If one third (1,700) of these are preventable by improved cannula care, it could save significant patient suffering and the NHS millions of pounds a year.
Previously, patients at the Winchester hospital were given cannulae as a routine part of their medical care if they needed intravenous fluids or drugs.
But since last November, they have had to be prescribed by a doctor, used only when absolutely necessary and inserted by specialists.
The cannula is flushed with saline solution and monitored daily by trained medical assistants to spot early signs of infection, using a scorecard to rate its appearance.
The trust is believed to be the first to introduce both prescribing of cannulae and strict monitoring.
Dr Gordon had the idea for the two-pronged policy change while Sister Rachel Wright and her team implemented it.
Sister Wright said: "We always try to follow best practice, but with this I think it is fair to say we have gone one better.
"It just illustrates that simple measures, when strictly followed, can work."
Patients on medical wards were the first to benefit from the new regime. Because of the impressive results, it will now be rolled out across the rest of the hospital trust.
Other measures to combat superbugs have included a clampdown on hand hygiene, deep cleaning of wards and stricter antibiotic prescribing.
Derek Butler, chairman of MRSA Action UK, was today (Thursday) due to visit the hospital to meet Dr Gordon and senior managers.
Shadow Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley MP, will also be visiting.
Steve Brine, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Winchester, said: "The Trust ambition to have an infection free hospital in Winchester is exactly where we should be aiming and it's nothing less than local people expect.
"There will always be set-backs along the way but we should congratulate those working at the Royal Hampshire for really setting the standard in such a bold and innovative way."
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