MRSA infections in hospital can be significantly reduced if all hospital staff adhere to good hygiene practice. Simple measures, such as washing hands and regular cleaning of wards and bedding, will reduce the chance of passing on bacteria from patient to patient.
Many hospitals already have effective screening procedures and treatments in place for carriers of MRSA and this has been proven to reduce the number of cases of MRSA in hospitals.
Many people continue to contract MRSA whilst being treated as a patient in hospital for an unrelated condition. The elderly and people who are already quite sick are at most risk from MRSA infection which can prove to be a very debilitating condition.
MRSA 'Superbug'
There are various sub-types of Staphylococcus Aureus (SA) bacteria and some of these strains are classed as MRSA which stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). This is often referred to as the 'superbug'. Approximately one in three people carry an SA (Staphylococcus Aureus) bacterium on the surface of their skin or in their nose, without ever developing an infection.
This is referred to as being colonised by the bacteria, when MRSA grows in or on your body with no signs or symptoms of an infection. This colonisation can act as a reservoir which means that MRSA infections can later either develop in your body or spread to other people.
If the bacteria makes its way into the body through a break in the skin, infections such as boils, abscesses, sties, cellulitis or impetigo can be caused. If the bacteria invades the bloodstream (bacteraemia), it can travel to internal parts of the body to cause much more serious infections.
For example septicaemia, septic shock, meningitis an pneumonia, amongst other serious conditions. MRSA is now the cause of over 4 in 10 bloodstream infections.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Most SA infections are treatable with commonly used antibiotics, such as Methicillin (a type of Penicillin). However, SA is becoming increasingly resistant to these antibiotics, meaning that the bacteria are not killed by the antibiotic, but mutate and multiply forming MRSA. The number of antibiotic resistant bacteria has increased recently due to people not finishing prescribed courses of antibiotics, or antibiotics being overused.
MRSA is no more aggressive or infectious than other types of SA, but it is more difficult to treat due to the resistance to the antibiotics. Antibiotics are still used to treat MRSA, but usually in a much higher dose and for a much longer period.
The bacteria can be spread from person to person from someone who has an MRSA infection, or someone who is colonised by the bacteria. It can spread through contact with towels, sheets, clothes, dressings, surfaces, door handles and many other items that have been used by someone with MRSA.
MRSA infections are more common in people who are already ill in hospital and will not usually cause symptoms in a healthy person. Those most at risk are newborn babies, the elderly, persons who have recently had surgery and persons with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, cancer or HIV/AIDS.
If an infection with SA is suspected, it is usually diagnosed by testing blood, urine or a tissue sample from the infected area. If SA is detected, further tests are carried out to determine which antibiotics will kill the bacteria in order to treat the patient effectively.
From March 2009, all patients who are admitted to hospitals, other than in an emergency, are checked so detect whether they are colonised with MRSA. If they are, they will usually be offered treatment to remove or reduce the bacteria. There are some exceptions to this which include: day operations on eyes or teeth; endoscopy as a day case; minor skin procedures; children and pregnant women, unless they are planning to have a caesarean section.
Preventing MRSA
- If you are prescribed antibiotics by your GP or doctor, always complete the full course
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after visiting someone in hospital
- Use the alcohol rubs or gels in hospitals where provided
- Ensure all cuts are covered with a waterproof dressing
- Wear gloves if you are in contact with a person with MRSA (not necessary if you are just talking to someone)
- Avoid sharing towels, facecloths etc with people who have MRSA
However, SA (including MRSA strains) will not normally cause an infection in a well and health person. So for example, people who visit patients with MRSA, or medical staff who treat people with MRSA, are not likely to develop an MRSA infection. However, if bacteria get on to their skin, they may become colonised with the bacteria, passing it on to someone who is ill, or who has a wound, which may then cause infection.
MRSA Claims
Bringing a
compensation claim for an MRSA infection against a hospital can be fraught with difficulty. This is because as with all claims of this type, it is necessary to prove that hospital negligence 'failure by the hospital in their duty of care' caused a patient to contract MRSA. This is often difficult to prove particularly as most people who contract MRSA are quite ill with an unrelated illness. However, a claim may be successful if it can shown to meet the legal requirements of three important criteria: liability, causation and consequences.
If you or a family member has been affected by MRSA infection in hospital, Legal Advice Helpline can help you make a
No Win No Fee Personal Injury claim for compensation by referring you to an expert solicitor.
For more information on claiming compensation for MRSA infection, call
Legal Advice Helpline on 0800 612 3042.