Trust winning MRSA fight
Sep 19 2007 by Audrey Barton, The Journal
A TYNESIDE hospital is bucking the North-East trend as it appears to be winning its fight to eradicate superbug MRSA.
South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust which runs South Tyneside District Hospital has surpassed its targets in relation to MRSA.
The Strategic Health Authority NHS North-East’s summary of progress revealed hospitals in the region are failing to meet targets in tackling the disease – and have failed consistently for almost two years. The figures were based on a regionwide picture but individually South Tyneside is making great gains in its battle against MRSA.
Director of nursing at South Tyneside David Shilton said: “We have been doing well for the last three years.
“We are really pleased and proud with our results as it is something that is very important to patients.”
The trust was ranked 11th best in the country last year by the Health Protection Agency. It had seven cases of the bug against a target of 14.
The cases of hospital acquired infections, such as MRSA came well below the national average of 8.2%, at 4.8% according to the South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust Infection Control Annual Report, April 2006 to March 2007.
This year, the trust has experienced four cases against its individual target of 12.
The trust was also ranked third in the country among small trusts for its progress against Clostridium difficile.
Mr Shilton puts their performance down to constant vigilance.
He said: “It requires constant vigilance, you cannot take your eye of the ball.
“We give a strong message to everyone who works in the hospital that infection control is everyone’s business.”
Patients coming into the hospital for major surgery use an antibacterial cream prior and after the procedure which prevents infections.
Mr Shilton said: “We were doing this for some patients in certain specialties for about a year but we extended it for more patients.”
He also cites a rigorous cleaning regime, and extreme care taken over when to prescribe antibiotics and how long for.
A spokeswoman for NHS North East said: “The figures on the strategic health authority’s board paper show the total number of MRSA cases across the North-East region.
“We collect data from eight hospital trusts in the area, some of whom manage a number of hospital sites, and collate this information to obtain the monthly figure.
“South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust has consistently reported very low rates of MRSA infection.”
