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Northern Ireland–wide:

Advice published to reduce hospital infection rates

As an integral part of the recently announced drive to significantly reduce hospital infection rates, a leaflet: How you can help us prevent and control infection in hospitals, has been published which will be distributed throughout the Province’s hospitals, encouraging staff and visitors to clean their hands on entering wards and providing advice for patients on cleanliness and the prevention of infection.

A target of 10 per cent has been set for reduction in the incidence of staphylococcus aureus, which includes MRSA, and a drop of 20 per cent of cases of clostridium difficile, by Michael McGimpsey, Northern Ireland Health Minister.

The Minister has also commissioned a second independent audit of standards of environmental cleanliness in hospitals which is due to take place before the end of this year.

“Even though we already have the best infection prevalence figures for any part of the UK,” he said, “we want these to reduce further. We will never be able to eradicate HCAIs completely, but we must ensure the rate of infections does not increase.”

For further details of the targets set and of the Minister’s comments, or for a copy of the leaflet, visit the Northern Ireland Government website at: www.northernireland.gov.uk.

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