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Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust (UK) began prescribing the insertion of cannulae - for giving intravenous fluids and drugs. Doctors moniterd the cannulae more closely for signs of infection.
Since the introduction last November there have been NO NEW CASES of MRSA infections. This figure covers all forms of MRSA, including bacteraemia and wound infections. This compares to 2007/08 when there was 11 reported bloodstream infections.
80% of patients entering hospitals are said to have a cannula inserted as a routine procedure often inserted by nurses than doctors in most hospitals.
The trust, which runs the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and the Andover War Memorial Hospital, believes that if the same practice was adopted nationwide MRSA levels would drop dramatically and save funds to treat patients.
Since 1989, I have been writing about this association and struggling to bring out a cannula which could help us reduce the number of attempts and thus prevent spreading infections. My mission was to stop antibiotic resistant bacteria spreading into the community. Unfortunately the medical community, CMO nor the politicians and defiantly not the cannula manufacturers took notice.
I must congratulate Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust (UK) on implementing this strict regime and proving IV Cannula is one of the major cause of introducing spreading antibiotic resistant bacterial infection in hospital.
It will be difficult for doctors and nurses to defend themselves if a patient develops antibiotic resistant bacterial infection. This is now not only a legal problem but also an ethical issue. "Do No Harm", knowing we could introduce lethal bacteria that could kill, when introducing a cannula, how could we feel comfortable to perform this procedure?
Ref: BBC News; 8th May 2008
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