Annual Report and Accounts 2012/13 - Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital

24 2. Progress on our
2012/13 Priorities
Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Quality Report 2012/13
Zero tolerance
approach to avoidable
health-care associated
infections
In 2003, the Department of Health
(DH) set out a clear direction for NHS
organisations on actions to reduce
hospital-associated infections (HAIs)
and to curb the proliferation of
antibiotic-resistant organisms (DH,
2003). Each acute hospital trust has
set targets to reduce hospital-acquired
MRSA blood stream infections. The
targets are being achieved through a
range of prevention strategies such as:
• Improved hand hygiene
• Aseptic technique – a method
used to protect wounds and other
susceptible sites from organisms
that could cause infection
• Skin disinfection prior to insertion
of drips
• Prompt removal of drips and
catheters
• Screening to identify people
carrying MRSA
• Topical treatments to reduce
carriage of MRSA whilst in
hospital.
We also know from our Members that
tackling hospital-acquired infections
remains a priority for the public.
Last year, as a result of these and
several other interventions, we
reported a 98% reduction of MRSA
blood stream infections acquired in the
RD&E since 2004/5.
This year (2012/13), we have achieved
even more and, at the end of March
2013, can report that there have been
no hospital-acquired MRSA blood
stream infections at the RD&E – with
it being 550 days since the last MRSA
blood stream infection was identified.
We continue to apply the
interventions that have made this
reduction possible, and now pursue a
zero tolerance approach to avoidable
healthcare-associated infections.
MRSA stands for Meticillin resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus (Staph.
aureus). This is a common bacterium
that can live, quite harmlessly, in the
nose, throat and sometimes on the
skin of about 30% of healthy people.
However, Staph. aureus may cause
harm (infection) when it has the
opportunity to enter other parts of the
body. This is more likely to happen in
people who are already unwell and
in hospital, particularly those who
have invasive devices such as drips
and catheters. Whilst Staph. aureus
can cause quite minor infections,
it can also cause serious infections
such as wound, chest or urinary tract
infections. It can also enter the blood
stream and cause septicaemia, which is
a very serious infection.
Staph.aureus infections are treated
with a variety of different antibiotics
depending on the type and severity
of the infection. Unfortunately,
some types of Staph. aureus have
developed resistance to an antibiotic
known as Meticillin and other similar
antibiotics. Types of Staph. aureus
that are resistant to Meticillin are
known as MRSA. It is widely accepted
that people who carry MRSA in their
nose, throat and on their skin have
a significant chance of developing
a blood stream infection whilst in
hospital.