Infections: the facts

Infections that occur in a hospital or healthcare environment are called healthcare associated infections or HCAIs.

The most well-known cause of HCAI is MRSA. MRSA is an abbreviation for meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is a type of bacteria that can cause infection when it gets in a patient's wound, lungs or bloodstream, but it is normally sensitive to an antibiotic called meticillin and related antibiotics such as flucloxacillin. MRSA is a particular type of SA which is resistant to this group of antibiotics.

Another well-known HCAI is caused by Clostridium difficile or C difficile for short. This causes an infection of the intestine (bowel), which then causes patients to have diarrhoea. It's something that is more likely to affect elderly patients who have been taking antibiotics.

In 2007/08 the Royal Surrey had 1.64 per 10,000 bed days (includes hospital and community acquired) MRSA bloodstream infections and 1.28 cases of C difficile per 1,000 bed days for acute specimens taken from patients aged 2+ years. These rates include all positive samples and include those infections that were both community acquired and hospital acquired. All staff here are working hard to try to ensure that these infections are reduced so that the risk to patients is minimised.

Click on the links to learn more about:

MRSA

C.diffcile

Novovirus

 Who gets these infections?

Around 8% of all patients in hospitals across the country have an HCAI at any one time. However, as they remain in hospital longer than other patients, the proportion of patient admissions that are complicated by an infection is less than this figure. Also, despite what you may have heard, the vast majority of infections have no long-lasting effects and patients make a full recovery.

What causes the infection?

Infection can happen when bacteria enter part of the body at a place where they are not meant to be. For instance, they can enter: 

• through a wound or cut (including a cut made during an operation);
• through a medical device that is inserted into the body - such as a drip into a vein or a catheter into the bladder;
• when we breathe (in the same way as when you catch a cold);
• when we swallow them, if the bacteria are on our fingers or in food - which can then result in food poisoning.

Why does infection happen in a healthcare environment?

Infection can happen anywhere, but patients in hospitals or care homes are often more vulnerable to infection than people elsewhere. This is because they have either just had medical treatments or operations that make them more vulnerable, or because they are more elderly. Their natural defences are lowered and so they are more likely to be affected by bacteria that enter their system.

How can I prevent it happening to me or others?

You can reduce the likelihood of getting an HCAI by always checking that staff have washed their hands or used an antibacterial hand rub before they touch you and by washing your own hands regularly (after contact with other patients or staff, after going to the toilet and before and after eating).

What if I get an infection?

If you get an infection staff will advise you what you and they will do to treat the symptoms and help you recover. This may mean that you are moved to a side room or that staff will wear aprons when treating you. This is to prevent other patients getting the infection.

Can I still have visitors, or does MRSA affect them?

Yes, visitors are still allowed. MRSA doesn't normally harm healthy people. However, your visitors should also help to reduce the risk of infection spreading by washing their hands or using an antibacterial hand rub before leaving, and not sitting on your bed.

Your visitors do not need to wear aprons but they should wash their hands either with soap and water or use the alcohol hand rub.  

If you are visiting a patient with an infection then always check with ward staff what you can do to reduce the spread of the infection.

At the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust we take infections very seriously and have procedures to reduce the risk of this happening. Our infection control team are experts in infection. If you have any concerns you wish to discuss about infection control please either discuss with the Ward Sister / Charge Nurse or Matron. The ward staff can also contact the Infection Control Team on your behalf.

Where can I find more information on this or similar issues?

There are lots of different sources of advice. You can ask a nurse or doctor on the ward who will be able to answer your questions.

You can also visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or phone NHS Direct on 08454647.