[brian]

NURSES failing to wash their hands were today blamed for some of the hundreds of deaths a year in UK hospitals from the MRSA superbug.

A shock study said basic hygiene failures in hospitals were increasing the risk of deadly infections such as MRSA.

But a Scots nurses' union leader said "absolutely filthy" wards across Scotland were to blame, rather than staff.

Around 70% of nurses blame ward under-staffing for the spread of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) - with some admitting they don't have time to wash their hands regularly.

Full Story: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/print/news/5025173.shtml

[fergus51]

Why don't they ever mention the other workers involved in patient care? Do they think the doctors and rts and ots and pts and dieticians and care aides don't all have the same issues?

[webbiedebbie]

Not to mention all of the visitors that come in and out of the hospitals.

[Marie_LPN]

Not surprised. Considering how lax the physicians at our facility are about putting on PPE and then going on to the next pt. Yes we ARE telling them what's required to go in that room, but we're also getting a bunch of "where do you get off's" or "who the hell died and left you MY boss' ".

[zambezi]

We had a couple of groupings of MRSA where I work. All of the nurses, docs, RTs etc were tested for MRSA. Apparently there was some cross contamination going on with patients that we didn't know had MRSA. Now any patient admitted to the unit gets a nasal swab for MRSA so we can pinpoint carriers earlier and take the appropriate isolation steps to assist in avoiding the cross contamination. Good handwashing continues, of course

[gwenith]

We had a couple of outbreaks of Acinitobacter managed to keep the first under control but the second we had one cross infection from - traced it to the sinks so increased our vigilance on NOT putting anything from a patient down the sink.

[PJRNC2]

It is awful, awful, awful when those performing direct care do not wash their hands. I had planded to put up a sign (if I'm ever a patient) on the door saying Humor me, just wash you hands again so I can see. Now I've found the perfect sign to put above it. Our Paxil CR Rep. gave an inservice Mon. He had a Giant 'HELLO my name is' sign and ANXIOUS was written in. (fairly new indication for Paxil.) I need to go and see if it is stiil around and hold on it it. Many months ago the Wall Street Journal had an article about a new hosp being built with a handwashing sink in every patient roon for staff only. The Admistration in the old hosp was so concerned with the increased hosp. related infection rate they took out water fountians and put in sinks for the staff to wah their hands more freq. and maindated when entering a pt. room hands must be washed. When working hemodialysis the surgons were kindly reminded to wash their hands upon entering the unit. Didn't have problems with the Internal Physicians. (we were a satellite unit between two lg. cities and did not have nephrologists in the area back then(1974) (this is why I don't post very often, I begin to ramble off subject)

[fergus51]

I guess I am lucky since I only have 2 patients at a time so handwashing gets done. I remember one parent put up a "Staff please wash your hands" sign. I ripped that sucker down and tossed it so fast!!!

[fiestynurse]

MRSA causes illness in persons outside of hospitals and healthcare facilities as well. Cases of MRSA diseases in the community have been associated with over use of antibiotics. Many cases of MRSA are being brought in from the outside.

[Loppear]

The hospital that I have been working as a Student nurse has some good policies on MRSA and VRE. If you have been a patient in ANY hospital, Long Term Care Centre, or Rehab Unit in the past year, you are swabbed (nares,groin, and anus) as soon as you are admitted to hospital. If you test positive for either MRSA or VRE, you are put on isolation. It does tend to upset patients when they watch everyone coming in their room all gowned and gloved and masked up, but it MUST be done to prevent the spread.
Every room has a sink just inside the door, and there are signs all over the place, both for staff, visitors and patients, WASH YOUR HANDS!!!! So far everyone I have worked with is very vigilant about it, including the Docs. The incidences of nosocomial infections in this area have dropped signifigantly due to constant teaching, re-teaching (HARPING!!!) about staying clean.