What are Hospitals Doing?

Some hospitals are already succeeding at keeping levels of MRSA to a minimum through a combination of early detection, isolation, appropriate treatment and prevention of cross infection.

New guidelines have recently been introduced by the Government to tackle the problem of MRSA. Health authorities and NHS staff are being asked to pay particular attention to good hand hygiene. This includes regular hand washing, use of disposable gloves when changing dressings and/or use of alcohol gel hand-rubs, such as the one available from Smith & Nephew. Health authorities have also been directed to keephospitals as clean as possible. Both of these measures will
help to reduce cross infection.

MRSA may develop in open wounds and is easily spread from one wound to another. The use of silver barrier dressings on wounds can also help to control MRSA and prevent cross infection. One type of silver dressing, called Acticoat*, can destroy MRSA and other bacteria in as little as 30 minutes. For further information about silver barrier dressings, click here.

What can I do to reduce the risk of acquiring MRSA?