More Cleaners Improve MRSA Rates

According to a study published in BMC Medicine just one extra cleaner who targeted cleaning methods on a hospital ward can save lives and money.

UNISON the UK's largest public service union were the sponsors of the study. Dave Prentis, general secretary of UNISON, said:

'The number of cleaners employed by the NHS has been cut almost in two since the 80s and patients have paid the price. Armed with this evidence, UNISON will be arguing that every cleaner plays an invaluable part in the control of infections and employing more in the NHS is a win, win situation - lives are saved as well as much needed NHS money.'

Targeted cleaning involves focusing on areas close to patient's beds and the areas around them, for example, lockers, trays, buzzers and curtains. The main focus of attention in the past has been on handwashing to prevent infection spreading from person to person but of course an infected patient is just as likely to touch the environment around them.

Lack of hygiene is what contributes to the spread of dangerous and infectious diseases such as MRSA and C'Difficile in hospitals. It is thought that at the hospital where the research took place between five and nine patients lives were saved just because of the implementation of a new cleaner. There was a 32.5% reduction in contamination. Cases of MRSA fell in the six months that the cleaner was on a ward and then increased again when they left. The ward that the cleaner moved to then saw improved rates.

Additionally the savings to the hospital were thought to be in the region of between £30,000 and £70,000.

The study concluded:

'This study has shown that one additional cleaner on two surgical wards over one year can have an impact on the microbial contamination of high risk hand touch sites. There is a suggestion that the number of new MRSA infections were reduced relative to the level of MRSA patient days.'

Better cleanliness in private hospitals is one of the main reasons sited for people choosing to take out private medical insurance.