Review Panel Makes Progress On Helping The Nhs To Fight MRSA, UK

Main Category: MRSA / Drug Resistance
Article Date: 04 Feb 2005 - 12:00 PDT

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UK Health Minister, Lord Warner, announced today the third wave of Rapid Review panel decisions on new equipment, materials and other products that can help NHS staff improve hospital cleanliness, hygiene and infection control.

Highlighting the products already approved by the panel and now available to the NHS, Lord Warner said:

"In the battle against MRSA we will leave no stone unturned. Lots of claims have been made for all types of products.Thanks to the excellent work of our Review Panel we now know what will definitely work, what will need more testing before being used in the NHS and what has little to offer in relation to MRSA."

"A silver coated hydrogen catheter with a silver alloy which reduces urinary tract infections has now been placed on the direct supply contract by the Purchasing and Supplies Agency (PASA) and its cost effectiveness is being evaluated. A barrier cream allowing frequent use of gloves and disinfectant hand rubs without allergy or skin damage will now be subject to a formal tender process.

"The HPA panel has looked at fifty nine types of equipment, materials and other products so far and these two have shown benefits that should be available to the NHS. A further ten have potential value and in use trials are now needed in an NHS clinical setting. We will continue to monitor the latest developments in improving hygiene and infection control so we can equip the NHS with the best advice, the latest equipment and the cleverest science in the fight against MRSA."

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.

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

Notes for Editors

1. Click Here for a full list of the equipment, materials and other products that have been assesed by the HPA Rapid Review Panel

2. 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.

The following recommendations may be made:

1. Basic research and development, validation and recent in use evaluations have shown benefits that should be available to NHS bodies to include as appropriate in their cleaning, hygiene or infection control protocols.

2. Basic research and development has been completed and the product may have potential value; in use evaluations/trials are now needed in an NHS clinical setting.

3. A potentially useful new concept but insufficiently validated; more research and development is required before it is ready for evaluation in practice.

4. Unlikely to be of benefit or not a significant improvement on equipment/materials/products already available; no further consideration needed.

5. Insufficient evidence presented to enable full review of the product.

6. An already well established product that does not merit further consideration by the Panel.

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:

Oct 2004 The Matron's Charter agreed with the Royal College of Nurses to ensure Matrons and nurses at ward level can access cleaning services and ensure high standards are maintained

Nov 2004 CNO announces that all staff covered by the new NHS pay scheme Agenda for Change - including nurses, porters, cleaners and healthcare assistants - must show that they are able to reduce the risk of healthcare associated infections, including MRSA.

Nov 2004 A new target for the NHS - to reduce by half the number of MRSA bacteraemias in NHS hospitals by 2008 announced by John Reid

Dec 2004 Revised guidance on cleaning made available to the NHS that included new higher national standards and a model cleaning contract to ensure contracts are driven by quality and not only price

Dec 2004 A Science Summit of UK and international experts convened to see how emerging scientific findings can be developed into practical improvements in clinical practice to drive down the risk of MRSA

Jan 2005 A workshop of around 30 NHS Acute Trusts together with UK and international experts to consider concrete examples of good practice and agree a set of actions for immediate implementation

Click here for a full list of recent initiatives and actions on MRSA.

4. For further media enquiries please contact Ben Lewis or Claire Rich at DH Media Centre on 020 7210 4990/5238

Issued by : DOH Press Office (UK)

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