Screening of emergency and elective patients to protect against MRSA

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Screening

Over the past few years Cambridge University Hospitals has undertaken a considerable amount of work to reduce Healthcare Associated infections which are infections patients can get when they visit hospitals, general practitioners, or nursing homes. We have already made some significant improvements; our MRSA rates have fallen by over 85% since 2003/4 and the Clostridium difficile infections has fallen by 25% this year.

We are committed to making further improvements and I am pleased to confirm that as our hospitals had already implemented a screening policy for elective and emergency patients we have now implemented MRSA screening for day case patients. This is a full year ahead of the NHS MRSA Screening plan which requires hospitals to achieve the full standard next year.

Information on how this may affect you can be found in the patient information leaflet: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - for inpatients and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) patient screening information

You can also access our declaration of compliance: Statement of declaration on MRSA for all elective and emergency admission patients

If you require any more information please contact one of our infection prevention and control team who will be pleased to help you.

Dr Gareth Goodier
Chief Executive