Latest figures just released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that infections across the NHS in Buckinghamshire continue to remain low in our hospitals for Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and MRSA bacteraemia (bloodstream infections).

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust received excellent results for its MRSA bacteraemia figures for 2010/2011, which show that Buckinghamshire acute hospitals had well below the national average of MRSA bacteraemia cases per 10,000 bed days, reporting only 1.6 cases against an average of 3.9 nationally. This figure was joint second lowest for all acute trusts in our Strategic Health Authority area, which includes Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Trust has also performed well regarding the rate of C.difficile infections in patients aged two and over, per 10,000 bed days, reporting 26.4 cases compared to the national average of 28.2 cases.

Dr Jean O’Driscoll, director of infection prevention and control at the Trust, said the figures support and reflect the hard work being carried out by every staff member who works in our hospitals.

“We’re really pleased to again see that the Trust has been performing so well in comparison to many other hospitals for a considerable length of time,” she said.

“This is excellent news for our patients and staff as we continue to be vigilant and work hard to deliver on our promise to offer the safest care in clean and modern facilities”. Dr O’Driscoll added: “These results are just another step on our journey as we strive to stop all avoidable infections in our hospitals. We’re not complacent and our commitment to reduce infections further is as resolute as ever”.

Based on information supplied by Richard Burton.