Zero Tolerance to Infections

The message is clear, one Healthcare Associated Infection is one too many. From April 2010 the new MRSA objective will applied to all NHS organisations to help ensure that all patients receive clean, safe care across the whole of the NHS - a zero tolerance approach. HCAIs continue to be a significant challenge and a key focus for healthcare policy. Although considerable reductions have been made in MRSA and Clostridium difficile infections a report by the Committee of Public Accounts has noted that trusts have not got to grips with other infections such as pneumonias and hospital acquired surgical site infections.

During the winter months many hospitals will be running at full capacity and a target-driven approach to tackling HCAIs may adversely result in understaffed and overcrowded NHS facilities and fail to address the underlying concerns. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear the new strategies being formulated regarding infection control, identify areas of action and take away a better understanding of the key issues and problems. By striving to bring infection rates down further the disparities that exist between hospital performance can be reduced.