Hospital superbug 'out of control' as child MRSA cases rise to 150
Nearly 150 babies and children last year suffered potentially fatal blood infections after contracting the MRSA superbug in NHS hospitals, Government research reveals. The figure is double that of previous estimates, raising concerns that MRSA is tightening its grip on the very young and that poor hospital hygiene is allowing the superbug to spread.
Children with MRSA in their blood require emergency hospital treatment to prevent blood poisoning and toxic shock, which can quickly lead to organ failure and death. Premature babies receiving intravenous treatment are at particular risk because MRSA is able to enter their bloodstream through the tiny open wound required to administer drugs or fluids.
Preliminary results from the Health Protection Agency study, which will be unveiled at the organisation's annual conference tomorrow, show that more than three-quarters of the 147 youngsters affected since the research began last year were less than a year old. Of those, four out of 10 were under the age of one month.
Dr Alan Johnson, a researcher and microbiologist, said: "We have provisionally seen 147 cases of MRSA bacteraemia in children reported to us. This is very much an interim picture because we are still getting questionnaires from paediatricians."
He suggested that enhanced surveillance explained much of the rise, but said that the study had been extended for another year.
However, Dr Mark Enright, reader in microbiology at Imperial College London, said: "If you are getting nearly 150 bloodstream infections in children, that is an awful lot and it means things are getting out of control."
He added that, because bloodstream infections usually account for about 20 per cent of all MRSA cases, it was possible that as many as 750 children each year are contracting the superbug.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/10/nhs10.xml
Health Direct questions the accuracy of the Health Protection Agency's figures as on October 24, 2005 Newborn babies at 90% of hospitals are carrying MRSA superbug we noted that babies fall sick as doctors ignore superbug hygiene- newborn babies at 90% of hospitals are carrying the superbug MRSA, according to a study which found that doctors and nurses are ignoring basic hygiene measures to combat the spread of infection.
Fewer than half of doctors and 63% of nurses always wash their hands with antiseptic gels between patients, says the report. In some parts of the country only a third of hospitals have cleaners at night.
Children with MRSA in their blood require emergency hospital treatment to prevent blood poisoning and toxic shock, which can quickly lead to organ failure and death. Premature babies receiving intravenous treatment are at particular risk because MRSA is able to enter their bloodstream through the tiny open wound required to administer drugs or fluids.
Preliminary results from the Health Protection Agency study, which will be unveiled at the organisation's annual conference tomorrow, show that more than three-quarters of the 147 youngsters affected since the research began last year were less than a year old. Of those, four out of 10 were under the age of one month.
Dr Alan Johnson, a researcher and microbiologist, said: "We have provisionally seen 147 cases of MRSA bacteraemia in children reported to us. This is very much an interim picture because we are still getting questionnaires from paediatricians."
He suggested that enhanced surveillance explained much of the rise, but said that the study had been extended for another year.
However, Dr Mark Enright, reader in microbiology at Imperial College London, said: "If you are getting nearly 150 bloodstream infections in children, that is an awful lot and it means things are getting out of control."
He added that, because bloodstream infections usually account for about 20 per cent of all MRSA cases, it was possible that as many as 750 children each year are contracting the superbug.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/10/nhs10.xml
Health Direct questions the accuracy of the Health Protection Agency's figures as on October 24, 2005 Newborn babies at 90% of hospitals are carrying MRSA superbug we noted that babies fall sick as doctors ignore superbug hygiene- newborn babies at 90% of hospitals are carrying the superbug MRSA, according to a study which found that doctors and nurses are ignoring basic hygiene measures to combat the spread of infection.
Fewer than half of doctors and 63% of nurses always wash their hands with antiseptic gels between patients, says the report. In some parts of the country only a third of hospitals have cleaners at night.
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