MRSA cases reduced by 97%

A clear focus on hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) on our wards helps make a difference in reducing the number of infections

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The number of MRSA bacteraemia cases at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has been reduced by 97% over the past six years, from 105 cases in 2006/7 to three cases in 2012/13.

Clostridium Difficile (C Diff) infections have been reduced year on year, with a 76% reduction in the number of cases reported over the past five years, from 356 cases in 2008/09 to 86 cases in 2012/13.

Marian Carroll, Director of Nursing at The Pennine Acute Trust, said: “Year on year, we are successfully reducing the numbers of patients with healthcare acquired infections and this is very good news for our patients. Our staff work hard to tackle these infections with good hygiene practice and a range of infection control measures.

“We have implemented a number of measures that are having a major impact in reducing hospital acquired infections:- mandatory Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT) training for all clinical staff, infection prevention teams based at ward level and MRSA screening programmes for patients admitted to hospital for a procedure.

“Education is key to ensuring that our clinicians focus on safe practice at the point of delivery and a more targeted use of antibiotics. A clear focus on hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) on our wards helps make a difference in reducing the number of infections.”

The Trust has also introduced innovative disinfectants to eradicate Clostridium Difficile spores in the environment and has focussed on ensuring high standards of cleaning on all wards. Staff are encouraged to escalate any cleaning issues with cleaning supervisors and any wards identified with cases of C Diff undergo a full clean and disinfection immediately. Robust root cause analysis and work with partner agencies ensures that lessons can be learnt when the infection is identified and changes made to practices where needed.

Patient safety and reducing the number of health acquired infections remains a top priority. The Trust is continuing to seek ways to reduce the number of hospital acquired infections further by setting itself challenging targets and ensuring the ongoing training of its staff and by adopting new technologies wherever possible.

The Trust has set the challenge for 2013/14 of Zero MRSA bacteraemia cases and to reduce C Diff infections by a further 20% to no more than 69 cases across all the Trust’s hospitals.

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust runs North Manchester General Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, The Royal Oldham Hospital, and Rochdale Infirmary.

Last month the Trust launched a new hand-washing poster campaign across its hospitals to remind patients, visitors and staff to wash their hands and use the alcohol gel when entering hospital wards, clinical areas and waiting areas.