Hospital Pharmacist
Vol 11 No 11 p446
December 2004

News summary

New products identified to help fight MRSA

Three new products that could potentially help reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) levels in hospitals have been identified by the rapid review panel, according to John Reid, Health Secretary, speaking at the National Institute of Clinical Excellence conference in Birmingham on 1 December.

The rapid review panel was set up by the Health Protection Agency to look at new equipment, materials and other products that can help NHS staff improve hospital cleanliness, hygiene and infection control. The products it has identified as potentially beneficial are:

· Silver-coated hydrogel catheters, where the silver alloy used as coating reduces the likelihood of patients contracting urinary tract infections
· Decontamination systems that use hydrogen peroxide vapour to clean hospital rooms (produced by Bioquel)
· Non-alcohol based gels for hand cleaning (produced by Ebiox)

According to the panel, further evaluation is needed of the non-alcohol based gels and decontamination systems in an NHS setting before they can be introduced into clinical practice. Other products, including a portable machine to produce free-radicals, thereby increasing their concentration in enclosed spaces and products derived from cashew nuts were also evaluated. While they were considered potentially useful, the panel thought that more research and devlopment was needed.

Reducing infection risks from the use of catheters and maintaining high standards of hygiene are identified as action points in the Department of Health’s “Winning ways” document.