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In our Trust all employees have to under go annual training in Infection Control. We have alcohol gel at the entrance to all wards, complete with signs and mats. All staff have the choice to carry small gel tubes, and there are containers attached to every bed. We have a proactive Infection Control team who are bringing MRSA and other infections down in numbers each year. I agree that until we get all visitors to understand and recognise the need for hand hygiene, then it is a battle being lost. Ann Fisher -----Original Message----- From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Greta Thornbory Sent: 03 December 2006 11:53 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Coshh and mrsa Hi Folks I do think the debate on MRSA is interesting and was about to comment myself when a colleague, better placed than myself, asked me to pass on the following... (with which I whole heartedly concur) Regarding the recent issue raised concerning MRSA relating to victims and relatives of victims seeking to sue hospital trusts using COSHH. Sooner or later the spotlight will include C.Diff and other HAIs (hospital acquired infections), it's simply a matter of time. Victims and/or their relatives could use COSHH or, Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act instead if they choose. They do not have to prove that MRSA was contracted while in hospital. All they would have to prove [on the balance of probabilities] is that the hospital trust failed to adequately control the risk of infection [whether caused by or made worse by their treatment]. Under S3(1) HSW 1974, the wording of the writ would change ever so slightly, and use a form of words such as "the hospital trust (or other health care institution) failed to conduct its undertaking in such as way as to eliminate or, minimise the risk of infection....etc". All the other debate concerning pre-employment screening is simply missing the point. Surely a much better way to deal with situation is to ensure that: 1. Adequate polices and procedures are in place to deal with infection control 2. Employees (all of them) are appropriately informed and trained about the chain of infection and infection control (something I am sure does not happen properly) 3. There is appropriate monitoring and supervision to ensure that the policies and procedures are followed. Hence it is a management/infection control problem which OH should be advising and supporting management to deal with - not running around wasting time undertaking unnecessary and worthless screening procedures! Cheers, Greta Greta Thornbory Consultant, Occupational Health & Education Consultant Editor, OH Journal www.gtenterprises-uk.com <http://www.gtenterprises-uk.com> Tel: 01235 770156 Mob: 07778 518 027 ----- Original Message ----- From: Chris Packham <mailto:[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2006 12:38 PM Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Coshh and mrsa Just to add to Diane's comments, surely it would have to be shown that the infection was the result of some negligence on the part of the NHS Trust and that this was not an infection due to some outside source. Just consider what you see in a hospital if you stand in a ward... A number of patients A few nurses Even fewer doctors - and occasionally a consultant A significant number of ancillary staff, e.g. cleaners, porters etc. ... and then the great "unwashed", i.e. visitors. Who is to say that the infection was not due to transmission of the organism from a visitor, or due to the visitor handling an object (e.g. that bunch of grapes, something on the bedside table, etc.) and contaminating this? If you read some of the publications and studies on healthcare acquired infection you will realise that there is still debate and differences of opinion as to how we classify an infection as nosocomial (i.e. having been acquired within the healthcare environment). However, having read the article in question carefully, I get the impression that it is not so much the actual infection that is under consideration, but how the Trust then handles the infection, i.e. detection, diagnosis and treatment. It will be interesting to see how this one develops. Hopefully, if there are test cases, then the Trust involved will ensure that they have the right people to provide evidence and guidance. Finally, from the information I have (such as The Journal of Hospital Infection) it seems that only about 8% of all healthcare acquired infections are MRSA. Are we concentrating our efforts on one small section of a problem? Are we tackling the problem as a whole? Are we looking at all possible routes of transmission of infective micro-organisms? (Just rhetorical questions, you understand!) Chris Packham EnviroDerm Services 2 Amery Lodge Farm, North Littleton, Evesham, WR11 8QY, U.K. Tel: 0044 1386 832 311 Dermatological Engineering for a healthier workplace For more information about our support, services and technical aids, visit our recently revised website: (www.enviroderm.co.uk <http://www.enviroderm.co.uk> ) For immediate help e-mail us at [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> or phone on +44 1386 832 311 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remove this footer before replying. For list archives and documents, go to http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES AND EVENTS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH For Occupational Health jobs, go to http://OHJobs.drmaze.net Find out about Occupational Health Nursing Education in UK at http://home.wlv.ac.uk/~in6232/aohne/ _____ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.3/562 - Release Date: 01/12/2006 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remove this footer before replying. For list archives and documents, go to http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES AND EVENTS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH For Occupational Health jobs, go to http://OHJobs.drmaze.net Find out about Occupational Health Nursing Education in UK at http://home.wlv.ac.uk/~in6232/aohne/ The information contained in this email may be subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Unless the information is legally exempt from disclosure, the confidentiality of this email and your reply cannot be guaranteed. The unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or alteration of this message or any information contained within it is forbidden. It is intended for the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and delete the email from your system. The views expressed within this email are not necessarily the views or policies of the originating NHS organisation. E-mails are not considered a secure medium for sending personal information and may be at risk. Recipients should run anti-virus software before opening any attachments. All liability is excluded to the extent permitted by law for any claims arising from the use of this medium by this organisation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remove this footer before replying. For list archives and documents, go to http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES AND EVENTS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH For Occupational Health jobs, go to http://OHJobs.drmaze.net Find out about Occupational Health Nursing Education in UK at http://home.wlv.ac.uk/~in6232/aohne/