Posted on Wednesday 8th June 2011
Dr Clive Graham, Consultant Microbiologist
Clinical staff at north Cumbria’s two hospitals are continuing to win the battle against infection, with no cases of MRSA for over a year, latest figures show.
Hard work by clinical teams to minimise infections means there have been no post-48 hour MRSA bacteraemia for 12 months at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, and at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.
There were just two cases in the whole of the last financial year – one in April 2010 and the last one in May 2010 – making North Cumbria University Hospitals one of the best performing trusts in the North West at reducing MRSA rates.
The Trust is also performing very well on Clostridium difficile. There were only 57 cases of the infection attributed to the Trust in the last financial year against a target of 160.
This coming year, the Trust will have to have no more than four cases of post-48 hour MRSA and less than 120 C.diff cases.
At yesterday’s monthly Trust Board meeting, Trust Chairman Mike Little paid tribute to the work of the infection prevention and control and clinical teams at both hospitals for their efforts in continuing to cut infection rates.
He said: “We know this is important to our patients. Our clinical staff need to be congratulated for this significant reduction in infection rates. Staff have put many new practices in place which has also ensured we have continued to significantly reduce our rates."
Dr Clive Graham, Consultant Microbiologist and Clinical Lead for Support Services for North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The reduction in infection rates across the Trust is due to the hard work and determination of not only the infection prevention and control team but also to every member of staff who has given infection prevention the highest priority at all times.
“Specific steps that have been taken to address this have included ensuring that cleanliness is to the highest standards, promoting hand hygiene and ensuring that antibiotics are being used prudently. Reducing infection rates to such a degree should reassure our patients and it will remain our number one priority."