Infection Control Horizon Scanning Volume 2 Issue 1

Medical device alert issued for all types of mattress

Source: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

For fulltext link here

Date of publication: January 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: The MHRA have issued a medical device alert for all types of mattresses, following reports of damaged covers and associated interior mattress contamination. An accompanying poster on mattress decontamination has also been produced.

Length of publication: 5 pages (plus 1-page poster)

Acknowledgement: NursingTimes.Net news item

Scientists use DNA to track the spread of infection

Source: The Times Online

For fulltext link here

Date of publication: January 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: As part of a Modernising Medical Microbiology initative , scientists from a UK-wide consortium have embarked on an ambitious project to read the complete genetic codes of pathogens taken from hundreds of people, so that DNA can be used to track the spread of infection and to identify the source of outbreaks of disease. The £6 million initiative is funded by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration. Work has begun on sequencing 300 different samples of S. aureus and C. difficile, and the tuberculosis research will start this year.

Length of publication: Web page

Irish hospital introduces copper door handles to reduce infection

Source: eGov Monitor

For fulltext link here

Date of publication: January 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: St Francis Private Hospital, a 140-bed facility located in Mullingar, County Westmeath, and its associated nursing home, St Clair’s, have become the first institution to replace all existing handles with antimicrobial copper. Research has shown that copper surfaces can reduce microbial contamination by 90-100%.

Length of publication: Web page

Further dissemination

If you think anyone would benefit from receiving this bulletin, please e-mail them the link to this blog and suggest they Subscribe to Infection Control Horizon Scanning bulletin by e-mail to stay up to date with new content.