The recent debate over MRSA in our community is really getting to the state of the ridiculous. There is no question that this bacterium, which has been around for at least 40 years, is becoming a bigger and bigger menace in hospitals.Prior to the election, the shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, claimed that hospitals are being told to push more patients through beds rather than concentrating on hygiene and this is the cause of the epidemic. He calls for a search and destroy strategy to clean up wards.The health secretary, Dr John Reid, blames the increased use of contract cleaners under the last Tory government for the rise in the rates of infection. This is supported by the Public Sector Trades Union. They believe that it is the high input of patients that prevents MRSA and other hospital-acquired infections being tackled effectively. The answer, they feel, is strict hospital hygiene and frequent hand washing, with a higher proportion of single rooms.Now, we are told that matrons should take charge of cleanliness in hospitals. Despite all the hand wringing and washing, the morbidity and mortality are both in an upward spiral.
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