Infection control success

Together we can fight infection

Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie have beaten tough infection control targets.

Figures for 2008/9 show significant improvements on the number of healthcare-related infections – MRSA and Clostridium difficile.

The targets for the hospitals were no more than 300 cases of C. difficile and 33 of MRSA for the whole year. Results show there were 294 cases of C. difficile and 29 of MRSA – improvements of 26 per cent and 29 per cent on the previous 12 months. More than 650,000 patients would have come to hospital during 2008/9.

Angela Thompson, Assistant Director of Nursing, said: “This is great news for patients, but it also highlights the hard work and commitment of staff at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie.

“We strive to keep the number of cases dropping – all our staff are committed to a zero-tolerance approach to infections and this is supported by our hygiene and hand-washing practices.

“Visitors can help us fight infection too by following instructions from staff. Please clean your hands when entering and leaving wards, don’t visit in large groups, and don’t sit on beds.”

Among the initiatives introduced has been the opening of the new N2 ward for patients with infectious diseases. The ward has 22 individual rooms – when patients are in enclosed areas, infection can be managed more effectively and efficiently and that should mean a shorter stay in hospital.

Dr Jag Ahluwalia, Medical Director, added: “I would like to praise the efforts of staff and am confident we can continue to improve on our already excellent reductions of healthcare-associated infections.”

NHS Cambridgeshire sets the ceiling for the number of cases of infection at the hospitals. For 2009/10, there will be even lower targets of no more than 24 cases of MRSA and 240 of Clostridium difficile.