Hope in hospital bug battle

Tues March 31st, 2009

By Leigh Parry
Handwashing and titanium oxide are among weapons available against hospital infection, microbiologists were told today.

Research presented today (Tuesday) at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring meeting may help fight the war against hospital bacteria such as MRSA.

Regular handwashing by hospital staff and visitors could do more to prevent the spread of the MRSA superbug than isolating infected patients, one study has found.

Reporting on a year-long study in two hospital intensive care units, Dr Peter Wilson from University College Hospital London, UK, said rates of cross infection with MRSA were compared to the periods when patients were moved.

Patients were tested for MRSA weekly and hand hygiene by staff and visitors audited and encouraged.

There was no evidence of increased transmission of infection when patients were not moved.

"If a patient carrying MRSA is critically ill, moving them to a single room is less of a priority than clinical care," Dr Wilson said.

Other research, from a team at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute, showed the success of a new hard coating with antibacterial properties against healthcare-associated infections.

The veneer-like surface is made of titanium dioxide with added nitrogen. When it is activated by white light, it produces a decrease in the number of bacterial surviving on its surface.

Presenting the findings, Miss Zoie Aiken said the researchers would assess the coating against a range of different hospital bacteria such as MRSA.

But she said it was shown to be effective against E.coli, which was harder to kill.

Tags: UK News | MRSA & Hygiene

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