MRSA still rising as hit squads go in to failing hospitals
Half of all hospitals in England are failing to control the MRSA superbug in line with government targets in spite of a drive to improve awareness and ward hygiene, it has emerged. The latest figures for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) released yesterday, reveal that the NHS is highly unlikely to achieve the goal of cutting rates by 50 per cent within the next two years.
Specialist “hit squads” are being sent into 20 trusts facing the biggest challenges in reducing rates of the infection, which is thought to kill thousands of patients each year.
Jane Kennedy, the Health Minister, described the lack of progress as disappointing after the introduction of a series of high-profile government initiatives to address the issue.
The data shows that there were 3,580 cases of MRSA bloodstream infections reported in England from April to September 2005. This was up from 3,525 for the same period the previous year, while the 2004-05 total of 7,269 represents only a slight drop in year-on-year comparisons.
In 2004 John Reid, the Health Secretary, set a target of reducing MRSA bloodstream infections by half — from an annual rate of 7,684 cases to 3,842 by 2008. But the Department of Health said yesterday that although about half of acute trusts were on target to meet this pledge, half were behind target.
Ms Kennedy said the NHS had to do better if it was to halve rates in two years’ time. “I am disappointed that despite many trusts making significant reductions in infections the overall figures do not reflect these improvements,” she said.
She said that the “hit squads” would start work in Sandwell, Northumbria and Aintree NHS trusts before moving on to another 17 organisations facing difficulties with MRSA reduction over 2006.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2028115,00.html
Specialist “hit squads” are being sent into 20 trusts facing the biggest challenges in reducing rates of the infection, which is thought to kill thousands of patients each year.
Jane Kennedy, the Health Minister, described the lack of progress as disappointing after the introduction of a series of high-profile government initiatives to address the issue.
The data shows that there were 3,580 cases of MRSA bloodstream infections reported in England from April to September 2005. This was up from 3,525 for the same period the previous year, while the 2004-05 total of 7,269 represents only a slight drop in year-on-year comparisons.
In 2004 John Reid, the Health Secretary, set a target of reducing MRSA bloodstream infections by half — from an annual rate of 7,684 cases to 3,842 by 2008. But the Department of Health said yesterday that although about half of acute trusts were on target to meet this pledge, half were behind target.
Ms Kennedy said the NHS had to do better if it was to halve rates in two years’ time. “I am disappointed that despite many trusts making significant reductions in infections the overall figures do not reflect these improvements,” she said.
She said that the “hit squads” would start work in Sandwell, Northumbria and Aintree NHS trusts before moving on to another 17 organisations facing difficulties with MRSA reduction over 2006.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2028115,00.html
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