Cleaners Put Patients at Risk By Missing MRSA

Oct 31, 07:01 PM

Current Headlines: By Jenny Hope

HOSPITAL cleaners are failing to get rid of MRSA on door handles and light switches, putting patients at risk of the superbug, claims a review.

NHS cleaning policy concentrates on visible dirt found on floors and toilets, but 'hidden' germs are transmitting infection, according to the report by Scottish researchers.

It shows 'hand-touch' surfaces in wards, such as door handles, bed rails, infusion pumps and switches, can all harbour MRSA but are 'poorly cleaned'.

The review, published today in The Lancet Infectious Diseases medical journal, claims patients remain at risk without additional cleaning.

MRSA - methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus - claims 38 lives a year in Scotland and costs the NHS Pounds 183million.

Blood infection with MRSA is seen as the most serious form of the bug as it can lead to blood poisoning and organ failure. But experts claim this underestimates the true scale of the problem because the superbug also infects wounds.

MRSA is harmless to healthy people but dangerous to the sick and those having surgery.

A study in July found one in ten of all patients staying in Scottish hospitals picks up some form of superbug infection, resulting in cancelled operations and wards closed in a bid to get rid of the bug using intensive cleaning.

The consequences of infections range from a few extra days in hospital to death.

The Scottish Executive recently put forward proposals to screen all patients on admission to hospital to cut MRSA cases.

An army of 'cleanliness champions' has also been recruited to beat the bug by improving hygiene.

But review author Dr Stephanie

Dancer, of the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, said there was little evidence basic cleaning cuts the risk of getting MRSA.

Targeting cleaning at the areas most likely to harbour and transmit the superbug should get greater priority, she said.

Dr Dancer added: 'The evidence for MRSA contamination of a huge variety of hospital items, particularly hand-touch sites, is overwhelming.

'Prioritising hand hygiene is the single most beneficial intervention in the control of MRSA, but even if everyone does wash their hands properly, the effects of exemplary hand hygiene are eroded if the environment is heavily contaminated by MRSA.' Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: 'Good hygiene practice has to become automatic and embedded into everyday practice.

'Scotland has a rigorous Pounds 15million programme in place to tackle infection control.' Comment - Page 14

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