Superbug infections slashed

THE number of patients contracting superbug MRSA while in Pennine Acute Trust hospitals has been cut by 97 per cent.

Staff working for the trust, which runs the Royal Oldham Hospital, have slashed the number of cases from 105 in 2006-7 to three in 2012-13 with various eradication measures.

Cases of clostridium difficile (C-Diff) have been reduced by 76 per cent in past five years, from 356 in 2008-09 to 86 in 2012-13.

The trust has introduced innovative disinfectants to eradicate C-Diff spores in the environment and has focused on high standards of cleaning.

Marian Carroll, director of nursing at the Pennine Acute Trust, said: “Year on year, we are successfully reducing the numbers of patients with healthcare-acquired infections and this is very good news for our patients.

The trust has set a 2013-14 target of no MRSA cases and another 20 per cent reduction in C-Diff infections.