First results from rapid review panel in battle on MRSA, UK

Main Category: MRSA / Drug Resistance
Article Date: 01 Dec 2004 - 14:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

In his speech to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) conference in Birmingham (UK) today, Health Secretary John Reid announced that three new products had been identified that could potentially help in the fight against MRSA in hospitals. The products were the first to be identified by the new Rapid Review panel set up to look at new equipment, materials and other products that can help NHS staff improve hospital cleanliness, hygiene and infection control.

Commenting on the Rapid Review panel at the NICE conference in Birmingham today, John Reid said:

"In the battle against the superbug I leave no stone unturned.

"Lots of claims have been made for all types of products, but the NHS needs to know what works. That's why I asked top government scientists to investigate all claims, however odd they seem at first, be it silver or even cashew nuts

"If they can help in the battle with the ever-changing MRSA bug then we want to know. This is the latest step in our campaign to improve cleanliness and lower infection rates."

The three products identified by the Rapid Review panel as having potential value in the battle against MRSA are:

-- Silver coated hydrogel catheters where the silver alloy used to coat these catheters reduces urinary tract infections

-- Bioquell de-contamination systems which use a range of hydrogen peroxide vapour systems to de-contaminate hospital rooms

-- Ebiox range of hand hygiene products that use non-alcohol based gel for hand cleaning

The panel concluded that Bioquell and Eboix still need to be subject to further evaluation in an NHS clinical setting, but the silver coated hydrogel catheters could be introduced into NHS clinical practice following peer reviewed trials and economic appraisal.

The panel also looked at four other products. A portable device that uses ultra-violet technology was reviewed, but the panel decided it was unlikely to be of benefit. The panel looked at a system to produce free radicals, another portable machine to increase radical concentrations in closed spaces, and products derived from cashew nuts, it concluded that whilst they were potentially useful new concepts, more research and development was needed.

The rapid review panel is made up of top UK scientists. It is set to meet again in December where it will look at the next wave of potential products that could help fight MRSA.

Notes to editor

1. The Rapid Review panel was set-up by the Health Protection Agency at the request of the Department of Health to provide a prompt assessment of new equipment, materials and other products or protocols that may be of value to the NHS in improving hospital cleanliness, hygiene and infection control.

Proposals received or identified by the Department of Health are referred to the panel for review. The panel does not conduct evaluations of products but reviews information and evidence provided and makes recommendations to the Department of Health.

2. MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. MRSA is a strain of bacteria that can affect people in hospital and community settings such as care homes. It is a strain of staphylococcus aureus, a kind of bacteria, commonly found on the skin that can cause infections. Staphylococcus aureus lives completely harmlessly on the skin and in the nose of about one third of people. MRSA has become resistant to methicillin, a powerful antibiotic drug, hence its name.

3. Recent initiatives on MRSA and hospital infections include:

An Action plan "Towards cleaner hospitals and lower rates of infection", that sets out that every hospital will publish and display its infection rates

The national rollout of the National Patient Safety Agency's cleanyourhands campaign, which means there will be alcohol rubs at every staff patient contact point.

Launch of Matrons Charter and the appointment of Chief Nursing Officer, Chris Beasley, who is charged with improving cleanliness and hygiene in every hospital.

For further media enquiries ONLY please contact the press office.

Press officer, Claire Rich
020 7210 5238
Public Enquiries
020 7210 4850

• Additional
• References
• Citations