Industry news
New NHS guidelines for bacteria
Posted Mon, 13 Feb 2012
NHS hospitals should prepare risk assessment plans to determine the threat of pseudomonas bacteria, according to the Chief Medical Officer for England.
Professor Dame Sally Davies, who is also the Chief Scientific Advisor for England, has issued best practice guidance to special care units in hospitals for dealing with pseudomonas. The advice lists a variety of steps that NHS Trusts can take to minimise the risk of infection. For example, hospital hand washing stations should not be used for the removal of bodily fluids or for washing equipment.
Instead, babies should be washed with water from outlets that have undergone rigorous water sampling and risk assessment tests. Records should also be kept of when taps and other water outlets have been cleaned and flushed.
Professor Dame Sally Davies said it is crucial that NHS Trusts take all available steps to reduce the likelihood of infection. Risk assessments should focus on at-risk patients and services, water distribution systems and the use of flexible hoses.
Copyright Press Association 2012