Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by David Kidney (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 22 July 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Question: We heard exciting news just over a week ago that there might be a vaccine for such killers as MRSA and clostridium difficile in the next 10 years, and I urge my hon. Friend to ensure that the Department supports that research. Given the time scale, however, does she agree that it is important that health trusts do not take their eye off the ball when it comes to protecting patients against those potential killers by following the guidance on hygiene, clean premises and wards and screening newly admitted patients?

Answer: My hon. Friend raises a very important point. In fact, he must have raised it in his constituency, as the rates of MRSA and C. difficile infection in the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust were in decline in March this year. All health staff in the area are to be congratulated. We have reduced infection rates significantly for MRSA and C. difficile. Latest data from the Health Protection Agency for January to March show that MRSA bloodstream infections are down 33 per cent. from the same quarter of last year, and by more than 49 per cent. from the 2003-04 monthly average. The same is true for C. difficile infections: in the most vulnerable group of those aged 65 and over, the rate is 32 per cent. lower than in the same quarter of last year. NHS staff work extremely hard to drive down the number of infections. I agree that we must not take our eye of the ball, but we must also recognise such significant improvements.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 479 c652
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Hospitals Finance Disease control Hygiene Infectious diseases MRSA Research Vaccination Clostridium
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk