31 July 2008
NHSG/58/08
MRSA Screening Pilot
Patients admitted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the orthopaedic wards at Woodend hospital will be screened for MRSA from Friday, August 1.
NHS Grampian, NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Western Isles are participating in a year-long pilot screening programme co-ordinated by Health Protection Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government. Based on the outcomes of the feasibility study, it is possible that the programme will be rolled out across Scotland during 2009/2010.
The aim of the £5.2 million programme is to assess how effective mass screening is in tackling the spread of the bacterium.
Dr Pauline Strachan is Deputy Medical Director for NHS Grampian. She said:
“Preventing the spread of MRSA is a high priority for us. Our specialist infection control team already has a range of measures in place to protect patients. However, this is a very important pilot which will help demonstrate the benefits of mass screening to individual patients. As one of the three Boards involved, we are pleased to conduct the trial on behalf of NHS Scotland."
Recent evidence from the UK suggests that 7 per cent of all patients admitted to hospital have the bacterium on the surface of their body, even though they feel well. It only becomes a problem if it causes an infection. Screening can identify carriers before the germ goes on to cause infection and before it spreads to other patients.
The test will be carried out either in hospital or in an out-patient clinic. It involves a painless nose swab taken using a cotton bud. Patients with confirmed MRSA will undergo their medical procedure as planned, but they may be nursed in a single room or with other patients who have tested positive.
Treatment depends on whether the patient is infected or only colonised with the germ. Infected patients will be treated with antibiotics, while anyone colonised will be given a cream and a skin wash to reduce numbers of bacteria and reduce the possibility of infection.
Screening is not compulsory but patients will be urged to participate in this important initiative in the fight against infection.
Ends.
Notes to editors:
What is MRSA?
MRSA stands for meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is a type of Staphylococcus aureus that has become resistant to meticillin (a type of antibiotic) and to some other frequently used antibiotics. A common bacterium, it can live harmlessly on the skin and is not usually a risk to healthy people. However it can sometimes cause a number of common infections which can be treated and cured. The majority of people who carry it are not aware that they do, and most of them will not have any symptoms
Q. How is MRSA spread?
MRSA is mainly spread from person to person through hand contact. This is why good hand washing practices and the use of alcohol based hand gels are especially important in hospitals. Good hand hygiene is one of the most important and effective ways of stopping the spread of MRSA.
Q. What is screening and why is it being done?
It is estimated that around 7 per cent of all patients who are admitted to hospital have the MRSA bacterium on their skin or in their nose already, even though they may feel well. MRSA screening involves testing all patients who are admitted to this hospital so that those patients who are already carrying the bacterium can be identified. The MRSA bacterium is more likely to cause an infection in people who are unwell, which is why it’s so important to identify carriers in a hospital before it can infect carriers or spread to other patients. If we can identify those patients who are carrying MRSA when they come into the hospital, we can make sure that they and other patients receive the best and most appropriate care and treatment.
Q. How will the sample be taken?
A member of staff will collect a sample by taking a swab (using a cotton bud) from inside the nose. This is usually painless and causes only mild discomfort, generally a tickling sensation.