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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Answer

This Government are determined to do all they can to support the health and adult social care providers reduce Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). From the outset, through the Coalition Agreement, this Government made clear that they expected the national health service to adopt a zero tolerance approach to all health care associated infections (HCAIs), including MRSA.In the revision of the 2010-11 Operating Framework published in June, it was made clear that the NHS should continue prioritising the achievement of the MRSA objective. The successful implementation of this objective will deliver both an overall reduction nationally and, importantly, will reduce variation by moving all organisations towards the performance of the best.At the same time, the revision of the Operating Framework confirmed that it expected and required the NHS to implement MRSA screening of all relevant emergency admissions by the end of this year.[n terms of using the availability of data as a driver to supporting further reductions in MRSA, we have introduced weekly data publication of both MRSA blood stream infections and Clostridium difficile infections at hospital site level.We are also committed to ensuring that the NHS continue to have access to evidence based guidance in order that they can reduce the number of all HCAIs, including MRSA, through the implementation of effective infection prevention and control practices. This guidance is available on the Department of Health's ““Clean, Safe Care”” website.The Health and Social Care Act 2008 ““Code of Practice for health and adult social care on the Prevention and Control of Infections and related guidance””, which the Care Quality Commission use as a basis for assessing compliance with the registration requirement on cleanliness and infection control has been a driver for improvement in the hospital setting. The scope of the Code has already been extended to adult social care settings and will include primary care in due course so that we can ensure that all settings where patients receive care and treatment operate comparable infection prevention and control practices.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

26392; 519 c899-900W

Session

2010-12

Subjects

MRSA Screening

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk