5 November 2010
In June, the Trust launched a scheme to give patients, visitors and local people more information than ever before about healthcare acquired infection rates at its hospitals.
Now, having published weekly information about the number of cases of MRSA (bacteraemia) and Clostridium difficile infections at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals for four months, the Trust is adding another infection to the list.
From last month (October), the Trust started to publish weekly information about the number of cases of MSSA (Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus) bacteraemia for the first time.
Chief Executive Samantha Jones said: "National research shows that the public are concerned about hospital acquired infections, like MSSA and MRSA, and that it is something patients worry about when being admitted to hospital.
"We have worked really hard to reduce the number of cases of infections we have in our hospitals and our rates have dropped dramatically in recent years.
"By publishing our infection figures on a weekly basis, our patients can keep a close eye on the number of infections we have. Not only do I think it will help allay their concerns, it allows them to track our progress in reducing the number of cases of these infections to an absolute minimum."
Dr Sharon Chambers is a consultant microbiologist and the lead doctor responsible for the control and prevention of infections at the Trust. She said: "MSSA is very similar to MRSA, but, in the main, it is easier to treat.
"Like MRSA, many of us carry MSSA on our skin and suffer no ill effect - it is just part of the normal way in which bacteria lives on our bodies. However, it can enter the body in hospital through a surgical wound or where a hospital 'drip' enters the skin. That is why we have very strict procedures in place to keep wounds clean and sterile to reduce risk of infection to a minimum."
To view the Trust's weekly figures for MSSA, as well as MRSA and Clostridium difficile, visit www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/infectionstats. As well as weekly infection rates, you can also see figures for the year-to-date and comparisons with years gone by.
For more information about the work of the Trust is doing in its fight against infections, visit www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/infectioncontrol.
