§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to combat cases of the MRSA superbug. [47540]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 10 April 2002]: We require all acute Trusts to collect data on MRSA blood stream infections and the early results of this new surveillance system have recently been published. These data provide a baseline against which future performance and action can be measured.
Initiatives that will contribute to controlling MRSA include:
The Commission for Health Improvement's monitoring of compliance of the national infection control standard for acute Trusts during their routine clinical governance reviews.
The development of workshops to help implement the guidelines on the prevention and control of hospital acquired infection published in January 2001.
Work is also under way on a manual for the control of healthcare associated infections and a tool kit to assist Trusts in assessing their infection control staffing needs.
790WGuidelines for community infection control are being developed as part of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence programme.
A comprehensive study to describe the pattern of provision of infection control in the community is under way, plus a review of the role of CIC nurses. This review will clarify their skills, education and training requirements and identify best practice.
Action plans for healthcare acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance that build on the above initiatives will be produced later this year.