MRSA Notes

I received this in an email last week, and it is an eloquent plea from a concerned person (presumably from the UK) for the hospitals to do some basic things that could well help prevent the spread of HA-MRSA in hospitals. I totally agree with him - there are so many small things that could be incorporated that aren’t being done. Anyway, read this and tell me what you think (the bold type is my doing, not his):

Whilst studying, and qualifying in, Pharmacy some thirty years ago, I well remember my first microbiology lecture when we were told that the most dangerously unhealthy place to be was in hospital. Why ? Because they are constantly maintained at body temperature, which is an ideal environment for viruses and bacteria to thrive and multiply. It seems that this is still the case today.

I also learnt during my studies that lowering room temperatures could dramatically reduce bacterial and viral growth, with resultant drop in spread and infection rates. Again, I assume this still to be the case.

Why then are these principles not being recognised in the battle against MRSA and other potentially lethal bugs that are rife in today’s hospitals. I can understand that certain areas such as operating theatres and intensive-care wards may need to be maintained at body temperature, but why, do the rest of the wards, waiting areas and building need to be maintained at such stifling temperatures.

It may be nice for staff to walk around in shirtsleeves and lightweight trendy uniforms, but the first thing visitors want to do is to strip off a few layers of clothing when they arrive in order to get comfortable. Patients sit up in bed, sweating it out in the flimsiest of nightwear and those with chest complaints must find a warm dry atmosphere a hindrance rather than a help to their complaint. As a lifelong asthmatic, I speak with experience. Oh for the joys of fresh air.

I would suggest that dropping temperatures, even by only a degree or two, would greatly reduce hospital infections and their spread, whilst at the same time save vast amounts of annual heating costs. A few staff may be inconvenienced by having to wear an extra layer of clothing, but visitors and patients alike would welcome a more comfortable environment more akin to their normal living conditions in the world outside. With today’s technology, surely it is possible to achieve lower temperatures throughout most areas of our hospitals whilst maintaining certain areas at higher temperatures as needed.

We are told that a large percentage of the population carry the MRSA bugs around in their noses for most of their lives. Why then is there no pandemic-type spread of infection outside of hospitals. Yet again, the simple answer could be that in the outside world, temperatures constantly fluctuate and the only safe place for these bugs is to stay in our noses. But hospitals are rigidly and constantly maintained at temperatures that these bugs adore. Temperatures where they no longer need to remain in our noses, Temperatures where they can thrive and multiply and float throughout the atmosphere happily infecting any other open body tissue or wound that they can land on. What more could they ask for?

I have been putting forward these ideas for some time now, writing to the press, radio and TV programs as well as to government bodies and various organisations connected with MRSA infections. I simply cannot understand why NOT ONE single person has been able to answer a very simple question i.e.” Has any work or trials been carried out in laboratories, or more importantly in hospitals, to investigate the effect of reduced temperature on the life and spread of infections like MRSA. “

Is it perhaps that there is too much vested interest in the vast amounts of money being spent on disinfecting and cleaning materials and staff? Are the ongoing presence of these bugs a great excuse for drug companies to launch their ever more expensive latest antibiotics? Is it perhaps that the solution is so glaringly obvious, that no one dare admit that it hasn’t been investigated or tried.

All that I know is that whilst I have received polite acknowledgements of my letters, often praising their logic, as yet, my question has been met with a glaring and unexplained silence.

So I write this letter in the hope that at least someone, eventually will respond, even if only to shoot my thoughts down in flames. At least I will then be able to put the matter behind me rather than at the moment becoming more and more frustrated every time I see, read or hear yet another report on the growing threat of hospital infections and the millions being spent trying to conquer them.

If successful, as well as resolving the issue and saving lives, reducing hospital temperatures may well save the government a phenomenal amount of cash which could be invested more usefully in other areas of the NHS.

Education, HA MRSA, Infection Prevention, MRSA, MRSA Internationally

Share This