Infection control: HPA publishes first set of data on MSSA infection rates
THE first set of mandatory monthly data for Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) blood stream infection was published this week as part of the Government’s commitment to providing patients and the NHS with more information to improve quality of care.
The NHS has made significant reductions in MRSA and C. difficile infections, but we have been clear that a modern NHS must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to all infections to improve patient care
The new data, published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), comes after last year’s commitment to ensuring patients have access to a wider range of information about healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) to improve transparency and help drive down infection rates.
The figures show there were 738 cases of MSSA in January and 675 in February. The organisation most affected was Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Foundation Trust, with six cases in January and 9 in February. The primary care trust which topped the table was NHS Hampshire with 16 cases in January and 14 in February.
At the same time the data shows a 29% reduction in cases of MRSA and a 23% reduction in cases of C. difficile between February 2010 and February 2011.
The Department of Health has also announced that mandatory surveillance will also be extended to include E. coli data from June 2011.
By publishing this extra information, patients will have the facts to help them make meaningful choices and hold hospitals to account over performance on healthcare associated infections
Health Minister, Simon Burns, said: “The NHS has made significant reductions in MRSA and C. difficile infections, but we have been clear that a modern NHS must adopt a zero-tolerance approach to all infections to improve patient care.
“By publishing this extra information on MSSA now and on E.coli in the future, patients will have the facts to help them make meaningful choices and hold hospitals to account over performance on healthcare associated infections.
“Greater transparency of information encourages providers to continue to reduce infections, leading to better patient outcomes, as well as savings for the NHS.”
The extension to monitor MSSA and E.coli will establish a robust baseline from which future comparisons can be made to determine the proportion of infections that are healthcare associated.
“As new monthly data comes in and data quality improves, organisations will be able make comparisons and intervene to focus on those infections that occur in healthcare settings,” Burns added.