Infection control

Infection control

Infection control and prevention remains a top priority at the Trust and we believe an all-round team effort is the only way to be successful.

Figures over recent years have fallen for both Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemias and for Clostridium difficile and the aim is to continue the downward trend, as even one case is too many.

We want our patients to feel they are safe and receiving the best possible health care with us so, while the risk of an infection is very small indeed, reducing the risk of infections is of paramount importance.

We remind everyone in key public areas reminding the need to keep hands clean by washing hands with soap and water and using hand hygiene gels. This is the simplest, yet proven to be the most effective, way of keep infections away.

Measures that have been introduced include: 

  • Stricter uniform control with doctors now having to remove their jackets and ties and rolling up their sleeves and minimal jewellery (one plain wedding band) for all staff
  • All emergency and elective patients are screened before they come into the hospital for MRSA except a small Department of Health exclusion group
  • Specialist deep cleaning methods for bed and all ward furniture at regular intervals
  • Controlled antibiotics prescribing, as uncontrolled use has been linked to an increase of Clostridium difficile cases
  • Specialist trianing for all staff inserting cannulae (intravenuous lines) and venepuncture (taking blood samples)
  • Weekly reports including MRSA Bacteraemia and Clostridium difficile numbers are circulated internally and externally to our allied health teams
  • Monthly presentations are made to the Patient Safety and Quality Committee including the numbers of infections reported and any Infection Control incidents under investigation 
  • A detailed infection controlled surveillance report is presented to the Trust board on a monthly basis
  • Establishing a MRSA policy for all staff to work too.

Infection Prevention and Control Annual Report 2011-2012

Last update 11 December 2012