Infections success for East Lancs hospitals

3:20pm Sunday 3rd August 2008

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HOSPITALS in East Lancashire have had only one case of MRSA in two months, while clostridium difficile rates have fallen by almost 70 per cent.

There were no cases of MRSA bacteraemia throughout the Royal Blackburn Hospital, Burnley General Hospital, Rossendale Hospital and Pendle Community Hospital during the entire of June, and a 57-day bacteria-free run was broken by a single case on Wednesday.

Clostridium difficile cases have fallen from 130 in April to June last year, to just 43 in the same period this year.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust’s intranet now holds daily updates on infection rates throughout the four sites, while every department is subject to spot-checks on infection control procedures.

Every individual case also now goes through a rigorous investigation to find the source and causes, while the hospitals’ senior infection control nurses attend regular meetings with other trusts to share information, warnings and useful systems.

The trust had seven MRSA infections in April and May - one more than in the same period last year - but directors said the strict procedures had meant outbreaks were quickly controlled and eradicated.

Lynn Wissett, director of clinical care and governance, said:“We are pleased that our rates of healthcare-acquired infections remain relatively low for both Clostridium Difficile and MRSA.

“This along with the fact that recently released Healthcare Commission figures show that since 2007 our MRSA rates are the lowest they have been for six years indicates we are certainly proving successful in our bid prevent infection in our hospitals.

However, despite recently having almost a two-month period where our hospitals were MRSA-free, even one case is a case too many and a stark reminder to staff, visitors and patients the importance of following our infection control guidance.”