Click here to read our Infection Control Annual Report for 2011/2012

Controlling and reducing levels of infections such as MRSA and Clostridium Difficile (C-difficile ) is a very high priority for our Trust.

Actions we take to reduce the levels of MRSA include:

• All patients who attend a pre-admission assessment appointment are screened for MRSA.

• All patients admitted to hospital as an emergency are also swabbed for MRSA carriage. Anyone whose swab shows MRSA is followed up and either treated before they come into hospital or during their hospital stay.  Patients considered to be high risk may also be isolated. Care and treatment will be appropriate to the results of the screen.

Actions we take to reduce the levels of C. difficile include:

• restricting the use of broad spectrum antibiotics (which kill off the good bacteria in the gut enabling C. difficile to thrive).

• isolating any patient with symptoms of diarrhoea as a precaution, as well as any patient with C.difficile infection

• limit the transfer of patients between wards
• ensure that staff wear appropriate protective clothing
• carry out enhanced cleaning of wards and equipment
• continuously stress the importance of hand washing to staff, patients and visitors in helping to reduce the spread of infection
• provide hand sanitiser at the entrance to, and throughout, each ward.

In 2010/11 the number of patients who have acquired MRSA or C. difficile while a patient in our hospital is:

• 53 cases of C.difficile against a ceiling of 72
• three cases of MRSA Bacteraemia against a ceiling of four.

 Concerned about infections?

• If you are a patient at our hospitals, or a relative of one of our patients, and have a question or query about an infection issue, please speak with the nurse in charge of the ward or department, who will liaise with our Infection Prevention and Control Team.

• Should you have a concern, please raise it immediately with the ward staff or Matron for that area.

• You can also speak to our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), on 01268 394440

The Infection Prevention and Control Team

Our Infection Prevention and Control Team's role is to ensure that all steps are taken to minimise the spread of infection, advise on appropriate treatment regimes, and reassure patients.

Our Infection Prevention and Control Team is made up of specialist nurses, working together with the consultant microbiologist and administrative staff.

Health Protection Agency

You will find further information on the number of cases of MRSA and C. difficileat all hospitals on the Health Protection Agency (HPA) website at www.hpa.org.uk

Please be aware that, alongside the number of patients who have acquired MRSA or C. difficile while in hospital, the figures on the HPA website also include non-hospital patients whose samples have been tested in our hospital, and patients who come to the hospital already with MRSA and C. difficile.