Cambridge First: Hospital superbug cases drop sharply

Today's issue of Cambridge First newspaper features an article about how Addenbrooke's and the Rosie hospitals have significantly reduced their rates of hospital-acquired infections over the past five years.

The paper says:

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - which runs

Addenbrooke's and the Rosie Hospitals - reports no cases of MRSA since October and just five instances so far in in the current 2010-11 financial year. This compares with 112 cases in 2005/06. The number of patients testing positive for Clostridium difficile infection has fallen from 399 cases during the 2007/08 financial year to 84 cases to date in 2010/11.

Deputy chief nurse Lisa Knight said: “We set tough targets for infection control and all our staff work hard to keep the number of cases dropping. These figures reflect that commitment and indicate the measures we take are working. We have a zero-tolerance approach to healthcare-associated infections, and this is supported by our cleaning, hygiene and hand-washing practices. Visitors can also help by cleaning their hands when entering and leaving wards, not visiting in large groups and not sitting on the beds.”

Although we have already reduced our rates significantly we have set ourselves even tougher targets to further reduce the numbers during the 2011/12 financial year, which starts on 01 April 2011.

The full article can be viewed on the Cambridge First website.

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