Infection Prevention and Control Information

The following sections give you information about the main types of infection in healthcare settings and details on how to contact the Infection Prevention Team.

In line with the Department of Health Guidance 2 and 3 (Gateway 11123 and 13842), the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust has reviewed and extended its MRSA screening arrangements to include screening for all eligible elective patients since April 2009 and all emergency patients since 4^th October 2010.

The Trust can confirm it is compliant with the MRSA Screening Policy and this will be monitored by the Hospital Infection prevention and control and reported to Board on a monthly basis. More information regarding the screening policy, including our confirmation of compliance, can be found here

Patient information leaflets are available for hand hygiene, MRSA, Clostridium difficile and Norovirus in the clinical areas and in the public information kiosks across the hospital site. The information from these kiosks is also available in larger print and various languages. These can be printed out upon request.

Website links for further information on infections is available from NHS Choices.

1) What is MRSA? a quick guide to MRSA, including symptoms, causes, treatment, prevention and screening.

2) What is C. difficile - a quick guide to C diff, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and precautions.

3) What is Norovirus? - Norovirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in England and Wales and can affect people of any age.

4) Advice on colds and flu

5) Hand hygiene

Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI) Facts and Figures: The George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust participates fully in the Department of Health's mandatory surveillance scheme. All patients developing infection due to MRSA in the blood and the number of patients acquiring C diff associated diarrhoea are nationally reported on the Health Protection Agency website. The Trust's MRSA bacteraemia and C diff rates by clicking here.

Details of the Infection Prevention and Control Team:

· Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC) - Mrs Dawn Wardell,

· Consultant Microbiologist for the Coventry & Warwickshire Pathology Network - Dr James Clayton,

· Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention and Control - Pat Hutchinson

· Infection Prevention and Control - Joanne Taylor

· Infection Prevention and Control –Lizzie Robson

Contact details:

C/O Pathology Office

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

College Street

Nuneaton

CV10 7DJ