World MRSA Day, raising awareness and looking beyond 50 years since the discovery of MRSA
October 2nd is World MRSA Day. Here in the UK Kings College Hospital are holding an event on Friday 1st October 2010 and have invited MRSA Action UK to give the patient and relative perspective remembering those who have suffered, and to remind everyone of the significance of this important day, there will be stands at the hospital for patients and the public to visit and ask questions.
There will be awareness raising events throughout October and MRSA Action UK will also be visiting other NHS Hospital Trusts giving patient and relative case studies during infection prevention and control training events with staff. Bedford Hospital will be holding its Patient Safety Open Day on Saturday 16th October linking in with MRSA Awareness Month and Global Handwashing Day.
Key issues including avoiding falls, pressure ulcers, preventing deep vein thrombosis and nutritional advice for older people will be amongst some of the important aspects of patient safety that will be featured during the day. MRSA Action UK will have a stall and will be there to meet patients and staff on the day; this is an opportunity to find out what part we can all play in helping to stay healthy at home and in hospital.
In the USA World MRSA Day starts at Loyola University Chicago on October 1st 2010 and will be broadcast live by webstream on 3M’s website and at www.worldmrsaday.org starting at 10:00am (CST) – 6:00pm (UK).
The live broadcast will begin with the Press Conference followed immediately by the Remembrance Ceremony with Reverend Henry Soles, the senior chaplain for the Chicago Bulls basketball team officiating to honour all of the MRSA victims around the world who have lost their life to this preventable disease. A moment of silence will be observed around the world for all the MRSA victims.
The late Doctor Patricia Jevons viewed the micro-organism under the microscope for the first time on 2nd October in a Laboratory in Colindale, London. Outbreaks followed in hospitals in the South East and MRSA was soon endemic in hospitals across the UK and then became pandemic spreading across the globe.
Dr Jevons discovery was published in the British Medical Journal in 1961, acknowledging the significance of the find and its evolution.
These events have highlighted the importance of going back to the basics of asepsis and good hygiene to prevent infection rather than rely on our precious reserves of antimicrobials to cure the problem.
Meticillin was formulated in response to resistance to penicillin and we now need to learn from the lessons of history to preserve antimicrobials, the golden bullets that make pioneering surgeries safe. Without antimicrobials heart operations, cancer surgery, operations to restore sight, surgery to replace hips and knees, and other pioneering techniques would almost certainly lead to patients getting life threatening infections and not be able to benefit from these advances.
MRSA Action UK and MRSA Survivors’ Network in the USA are calling on Governments’ worldwide to take action to screen for the resistant pathogen and introduce better facilities for isolating patients. The UK has been successful in reducing the numbers of bloodstream infections from MRSA in UK hospitals, this needs to be extended now and surveillance of surgical site infections, catheter, urinary tract and skin infections should be measured in the same way so that we can continue to reduce the numbers of people affected, and sadly lost to avoidable infections.
There are significant numbers of MRSA bloodstream infections recorded outside of the hospital setting in the UK now, 66% are in the community setting. The USA has significant problems with community acquired MRSA, so more work needs to be done on screening and identifying the strains so that remedial action can be taken by Governments to invest in new antimicrobials and strategies to halt the spread in both the community and healthcare settings.
What the general public often do not realise is the significant role they can play in helping to reduce the chances of resistant pathogens like MRSA evolving and spreading. As individuals we can make sure we do not demand antimicrobials from our doctor if we have a more minor ailment that can be alleviated with pain-killers, drinking plenty and resting, such as coughs and colds.
MRSA is not the only resistant pathogen that can make us unwell and we can all help to reduce the spread of bacteria that each of us carries on our skin by frequent handwashing, using the right technique, and good hygiene around the home, in schools and the workplace. We can also help when visiting people in hospital by always washing hands on entering the ward and when leaving. It is important not sit on beds or the patient’s chair as bacteria that causes us no harm may be carried on clothing and can cause problems if transmitted to the vulnerable patient. Do not visit if you have been unwell with coughs, colds or tummy upsets; wait until 48 hours after your last symptoms.
MRSA Action UK is a registered charity formed by families who have suffered from or lost someone to MRSA and works to promote awareness of the infection and how to prevent it. The Charity was formed in 2005 and works in partnership with healthcare providers, government agencies, the Department of Health and other patient groups and charities, responding to policies on preventing infections and antimicrobial resistance. The Charity provides support and advice to patients and their families if they are worried about MRSA or other healthcare associated infections. MRSA Action UK has formed a strong allegiance with MRSA Survivors Network in the USA.
Jeanine Thomas, founder and spokesperson for MRSA Survivors Network honoured us by attending our Memorial Event at Westminster Abbey earlier this year. Jeanine surprised us all by presenting “Man of the Year Award” to Derek Butler, Chair of MRSA Action UK for the dedication shown to raising awareness and working to ensure infection prevention and control is kept as a top priority in healthcare.
Jeanine Thomas, founder of World MRSA Day is pleased that the historic day and events have taken off so well and that the kickoff event in Chicago is being broadcast live, she states, “We are very excited that the World MRSA Day kickoff event will be seen by so many around the world making it a truly live global event to raise awareness to the ongoing MRSA epidemic – we hope this is the tipping point. The response and support this year has been amazing.”
MRSA Survivors Network applauds the action of the UK, The Netherlands and Scandinavian countries along with the VA System in the United States who have taken decisive action by implementing active detection and isolation in their healthcare facilities and also for conducting effective awareness campaigns to the public and healthcare industry.
Derek Butler said “The allegiance between MRSA Action UK and MRSA Survivors Network clearly shows that bacteria have no regard for geographical boundaries, they spread with ease and at will, it is only by working together across these boundaries that we will defeat these bacteria. Past history has shown that Governments working collaboratively defeated Smallpox, given the same commitment the same can be achieved with avoidable healthcare infections”
“We were delighted when we were asked to kick off the events at Kings College Hospital this year, Ogra Marufu approached us to speak at the Infection Control Link Practitioners’ study day earlier in the year and attended our Memorial Event at Westminster Abbey, which has culminated in the Trust wanting to make this a top priority and mark the historic day with us”
If your organisation wishes to commemorate World MRSA Day, or you would like to get involved in holding an awareness event or a service of remembrance in the UK during October, then please email Derek Butler at derek.butler@mrsaactionuk.net or telephone 07762 741114. To get involved with events in the USA email Jeanine Thomas at jthomas@mrsasurvivors.org
Maria Cann
Secretary, MRSA Action UK
mrsaactionuk.net
07762 741114
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