Preventing infection

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHSFT) takes the prevention and control of infection very seriously. Over the past few years the Trust has adopted a range of proactive measures to prevent healthcare-associated infection. These measures include:

• Adopting the National Patient Safety Agency, 'Clean your Hands' Campaign to improve hand hygiene practice.
• Installation of wall mounted alcohol hand gels dispensers on all wards across the Trust for use by staff, patients and visitors.
• Providing training in infection control and hand hygiene at induction for all new staff, and ensuring staff attend annual refresher training on infection control and hand hygiene.
• Introduction of a visitors' code, to ensure there is adequate time for wards to be cleaned thoroughly, and to help us with infection control.

MRSA screening compliance statement: 1 April 2010

In line with Department of Health recommendations, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust has extended the MRSA screening programme to include all emergency admissions as well as elective (pre-booked) admissions. MRSA screening swabs are now taken for all emergency and elective patients.

Further details of this initiative are available in our MRSA policy. More information on MRSA is provided in the Trust MRSA leaflet and via links to the Department of Health website.

• Hand hygiene
• MRSA (including UHSFT number and HPA Analysis of UHSFT MRSA bloodstream infection rates)
• Clostridium difficile diarrhoea
• Other UHSFT infection control patient and visitor leaflets

Hand hygiene

Cleaning your hands is one of the simplest, cheapest and most effective ways to prevent bacteria (germs) being passed from person to person. A third of infections are preventable and our hospital wards and clinical areas have alcohol hand gel dispensers available for staff and visitors to use to prevent the spread of infections.

Who should clean their hands?

All hospital staff, patients and visitors should clean their hands on a regular basis. Hospital staff can help protect you by washing their hands or by cleaning them with the alcohol hand gel before examining you or providing care. If a member of staff needs to examine you, do not be afraid to ask if they have cleaned their hands. Patients and Visitors are also welcome to use the alcohol hand gel to clean their hands before and after entering a clinical area.

When should you wash your hands?

• After visiting the toilet or using a commode
• Before eating or handling food
• If your hands are dirty
• Before visiting a patient and again before leaving the ward
• All staff should clean their hands if they have direct contact with you
  

It's also important to remember:

• Remove all jewellery before cleaning your hands.
• Keep nails short, as this will make it easier to clean your hands properly.
• If you have a wound dressing, stitches, drips or catheters try not to touch them unnecessarily.

MRSA

What is MRSA?

MRSA is a common name for the bacteria (germ) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Click on the following links for information from the Department of Health and Health Protection Agency: -

• UHSFT MRSA Policy 
• MRSA rates – Department of health
• A Guide to MRSA – Department of Health
• MRSA Patient Information Leaflet - Health Protection Agency leaflet
• Advice for those affected by MRSA outside of hospital
  

How UHS is doing with MRSA

• MRSA Q&As
• Number of Avoidable MRSA Bloodstream infections within UHSFT
• Health Protection Agency analysis of MRSA bloodstream infection rates at UHSFT

Clostridium difficile - diarrhoea

What is Clostridium difficile?

Clostridium difficile is a bacteria (germ) that can cause diarrhoea in some circumstances. It is sometimes called 'c.diff.'

is a bacteria (germ) that can cause diarrhoea in some circumstances. It is sometimes called 'c.diff.'

Click on the following links for information from the Department of Health and Health Protection Agency:

• Clostridium difficile Q&As
• A Guide to Clostridium difficile - Department of Health
• Clostridium difficile infection reports - Health Protection Agency
• Clostridium difficile Patient Information Leaflet – Health Protection Agency
• Number of new cases of Clostridium difficile diarrhoea detected within UHSFT
  

Other UHS infection control patient and visitor information leaflets

• Diarrhoea and or vomiting outbreak
• Gastroenteritis caused by Norovirus and other viruses
• Reducing the risk of MRSA infection