01 February 2008
The public and NHS staff must adopt a 'zero tolerance' approach to infection if the recent reductions in MRSA and C difficile rates are to continue, the NHS Confederation said this week.
The latest figures show that MRSA infections fell by 18% between July and September last year. There were 1,072 cases in that time, 109 more than the government's target of 963, which it aims to reach by March. It seems likely this target will be reached.
Infection rates should fall as the Department of Health's £50m 'deep clean' programme is implemented. Health Secretary Alan Johnson said the NHS was winning the battle against the infections.
But Jo Webber, the Confederation's deputy policy director, warned that vigilance was important. 'Initiatives such as matrons and deep-cleaning need to be part of a system-wide approach to tackling this issue,' she said.
But the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats accused ministers of moving the MRSA target so it takes account of the period directly after the deep clean.
PFfeb2008
