Infection Prevention and Control

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust takes infection prevention and control very seriously. The Infection Prevention and Control Team maintains a high profile on the wards and departments and each area has a Link Nurse who co–ordinates and monitors efforts to minimise the spread of infection.

We are among the top performing trusts in the country for minimising the spread of MRSA and therefore reducing the risk to patients. The standards of cleanliness in our hospital are high and we have joined the national Clean Your Hands Campaign.

We maintain awareness of the importance of cleanliness among staff, patients and visitors through our ongoing Cleaning Matters campaign.

Matrons are responsible for the cleanliness of their wards and welcome any feedback from patients and visitors.

We undertook a 'deep clean' throughout the hospital during 2007-08 and upgraded many ward areas.

We have introduced new technology for cleaning (pictured above) - the hydrogen peroxide robotic system - which uses fully automated machines to thoroughly disinfect ward areas when rooms that have been occupied by patients with infections are vacated.

Our rates of MRSA continue to reduce:

• In 2006-07 we identified 15 cases of MRSA bacteraemia - of these cases, 13 were acquired by patients whilst in Dorset County Hospital, the rest in community settings
• In 2007-08 we identified 9 cases of MRSA bacteraemia - 8 acquired by patients whilst in Dorset County Hospital
• This represents a reduction of 40% but we are still trying to reduce this even further.

Our rates of Clostridium Difficile (C Diff) are also reducing. The way C Diff rates are measured now distinguishes between hospital acquired infections and cases in places such as care homes and community hospitals, so we can give a more accurate picture of how we are doing:

• April 2007 - 17 cases of C Diff isolated from patients at Dorset County Hospital
• May 2007 - 16 cases
• June 2007 - 9 cases
• July 2007 - 9 cases
• August 2007 - 13 cases
• September 2007 - 19 cases
• October 2007 - 21 cases
• November 2007 - 12 cases
• December 2007 - 18 cases
• January 2008 - 19 cases
• February 2008 - 6 cases
• March 2008 - 12 cases

MRSA information for patients

What is MRSA?

 

If you have MRSA while in hospital

 

Discharged with MRSA

 

Advice for those affected by MRSA outside of hospital

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Downloads

Hygiene Code Inspection Report 2008

 

PEAT (Patient Environment Action Team) Scores 2008

 

Infection Prevention and Control Policy

 

Infection Prevention and Control Annual Report 2007- 2008

 

Infection Prevention and Control Annual Report 2006 - 2007

 

Useful links

Clean Your Hands campaign

National Patient Safety Agency’s hand hygiene hub.

Health Protection Agency MRSA statistics

Up to date information on MRSA surveillance.

Hospital Infection Society

 

Association of Medical Microbiologists