Only two cases of hospital superbug reported in Telford & Wrekin

NHS Telford & Wrekin has recorded just two cases of the MRSA superbug infection in a year, a new report has revealed.

A report to the PCT's board says that in 2010/11 it recorded two cases against a target of no more than five. The trust also reported that it had had a lower number of cases than the national target for Clostridium difficile (C diff) but missed the local target by two cases.

It comes as health chiefs appear to be winning the war against MRSA with the number of cases across Shropshire down by 79 per cent compared to 2006/07.

There was a total of 10 MRSA cases in the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin health economy in 2010/11 – down from 48 five years ago. Wounds were identified as a common source of the infection.

According to the report, the two MRSA cases recorded by NHS Telford & Wrekin were diagnosed more than 48 hours after admission to an acute hospital.

In terms of the figures for C diff, the PCT was well below the national target with 55 cases compared to the target of no more than 103 cases.

But it narrowly missed the local stretch target of no more than 53 cases.

The report says: "Five of these samples were from the same patient but as the specimens were sent over 28 days apart by definition count as separate infections.

"However, the consultant microbiologist considers it most likely to represent a re-lapse rather than re-infection."

Heath officials say there were also five "sporadic" outbreaks of gastrointestinal infections reported to the infection prevention and control team within care homes.

Two of the five cases were later confirmed to be Norovirus.

An executive summary to Tuesday's meeting of the board says: "Cleanliness and infection control form part of the Care Quality Commission essential standards of quality and safety.

"The PCT provider service has assessed itself to be compliant in this area, recognising that work is still required to sustain the momentum and fulfil the national requirements."

Measures taken by health bosses to reduce the number of cases of MRSA include better systems to identify the root cause of infections, a reviewed screening policy, new training programmes, and a revision of community antibiotic guidelines.

By Russell Roberts