Six cases of MSSA infection recorded at local hospitals

SIX cases of MSSA infections were recorded by the Public Health Agency at Altnagelvin Hospital in a single three month period this year, it has emerged.

In the two hospitals serving Limavady residents, Altnagelvin in Londonderry and the Causeway in Coleraine, there were a total of 11 cases of MSSA infections from January to March 2012.

The notorious ‘hospital superbug’ MRSA, which lives on the skin and in the noses of about one in three people and although normally harmless, the bacteria can cause an infection when it enters the body and can lead to serious infections such as septicaemia. While it is closely related to MRSA, it does not show the same resistance to antibiotics.

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The six cases of MSSA recorded in the opening three months of 2012 in Altnagelvin and the five cases recorded in the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine represent the number of ‘bacteraemias’ or bloodstream infections identified by the Public Health Agency.

MSSA, or ‘staphylococcus aureus’ causes infections such as boils and infected skin wounds. It can cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections and ‘bacteraemia’ both in the community and in hospital practice.

Some types of the bacteria have become resistant to various antibiotics. These are known as methicillin resistant Staph. aureus or MRSA. Those types that are not resistant to certain antibiotics are known as methicillin sensitive Staph. aureus or MSSA.

Across acute hospitals in Northern Ireland, there have been a total of 72 MSSA bloodstream infections identified by the Public Health Agency from January to March 2012. The highest number of infections were identified at Antrim Area Hospital, with 13.

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The figures were released by the Public Health Agency in response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Act, by Magherafelt-based health lobby group ‘Save the Mid’.

The FOI request, a copy of which has been seen by the Sentinel, also asked for the number of deaths where MSSA was cited as the reason contributing factor in each health trust in 2012, although the Public Health Agency advised that it does not hold that information.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Edwin Poots is launching a consultation on proposals for maintaining cleanliness in hospitals which he says would help to reduce infections.

The Cleaning Policy emphasises the part that cleanliness has to play in helping to reduce Healthcare Associated Infections.

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Minister Poots said: “I am committed to improving and sustaining levels of cleanliness in healthcare settings. We have come a long way in the prevention and control of infection in our facilities, but more must be done.

“We have a duty to our population to do everything we can to eliminate preventable infections altogether.”

Commenting on the consultation exercise for the new Cleanliness Proposals, DUP Minister Edwin Poots said: “I am confident that the proposals in this draft Cleaning Policy will go even further towards achieving best practice and restoring public confidence in our hospitals.

“I would encourage people to respond to the consultation to ensure the best possible outcome in the provision of high quality cleaning services in our health service.”

The draft policy and consultation questionnaire can be accessed at: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/current_consultations