What is the cause of the rise in MRSA infections in the UK?
The rise in MRSA infections in the UK is likely to be multi-factorial. The new strains that emerged in the 1990s may be more virulent (i.e. more likely to cause infections) than some of their predecessors, or more easily spread on the hands of healthcare workers, equipment, and perhaps via the environment. There are also a number of factors that aid in the spread of MRSA in hospitals such as: patient transfers within and between hospitals, the increasing number of very ill patients seen in hospital and the difficulty in isolating some patients with MRSA. The increasing complexity of healthcare and medical intervention also add to the risk of acquiring MRSA. Several studies have shown that workloads are also an important factor: the more the required number of hand hygiene measures needed per hour the less the compliance. This is why rapid acting alcohol and other hand hygiene solutions are now advocated in healthcare: they are easier and faster to use.
