If you cannot find the answer to a question you have please do not hesitate to get in touch with the infection control team. Click here to view contact details.
Click on the questions below to view the answer:
Q1. What is MRSA and can it be treated?
Q2. What is Clostridium difficile? (C.diff)
Q3. If I am coming to see a relative can I bring flowers?
Q4. When should I clean my hands?
Q5. When should I NOT visit someone in hospital?
Q6. Is there a risk of me picking up an infection when I visit the hospital?
Q7. Can children come onto the wards?
Q8. Do visitors need to wear gloves and aprons when visiting a patient with an infection?
Q9. What is a Closed Ward and can I visit?
Q1. What is MRSA and can it be treated?
MRSA (Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is an organism which is resistant to penicillins. The organism, Staphylococcus aureus is found on the skin of many people and usually causes no major problems. However, if it gets inside the body, for instance via a wound or indwelling device, such as a catheter, it can cause infection. Individuals who carry this organism are usually totally healthy, have no problems and are considered simply to be carriers of the organisms.
Although MRSA is resistant to treatment with penicillins there are several antibiotics that can be used to successfully treat an infection.
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Q2. What is Clostridium difficile? (C.diff)
Clostridium difficile infection is a common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhoea. It is a bacteria that is present in the gut of up to 3% of healthy adults without causing an infection. This is because it is kept in check by the normal bacteria found in the intestine. When certain antibiotics disturb the balance of bacteria in the intestine, Clostridium difficile can multiply rapidly and produce toxins which cause illness. Clostridium difficile diarrhoea is more common in elderly patients who have had antibiotic treatment.
The diarrhoea usually settles when antibiotics have been stopped and the intestine returns to normal. It is very important to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with a patient who has Clostridium difficile diarrheoa. Alcohol gel on its own is NOT effective.
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Q3. If I am coming to see a relative can I bring flowers?
Please do not bring flowers to the following high risk areas: Intensive Care Unit, Trafford Kidney Unit, Howard 1 and Howard 2. We would advise that you also contact the ward Sister in any other areas you may wish to visit. You could then discuss suitable alternatives, for example, fresh fruit juice (pineapple or cranberry) or pro-biotics such as Yakult. Flower vases also create clutter which then makes cleaning difficult. Please see the visitor's code for more information.
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Q4. When should I clean my hands?
BEFORE AND AFTER ANY CONTACT WITH THE PATIENT.
This can be done efficiently with an alcohol hand rub. This is to be used when your hands are visibly clean and when you have not dealt with a patient who has diarrhoea; in this instance you must wash your hands with soap and water. Alcohol hand rubs can be found by the patient, on the wards and by the entrances to the wards.
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Q5. When should I NOT visit someone in hospital?
Please do not come into hospital if you are feeling unwell or have an infection. This includes diarrheoa, vomitting or a heavy cold.
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Q6. Is there a risk of me picking up an infection when I visit the hospital?
Please speak to the nurse in charge of the ward or area you wish to visit and they will advise you if there are any areas you should avoid. Healthy visitors and staff are not at risk of picking up an infection. Please ensure hands are clean before and after visiting a patient or after any patient contact.
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Q7. Can children come onto the wards?
Check with the nurse in charge, visiting children must be closely supervised at all times. Also, please respect the visiting times in all areas and encourage children to wash their hands with soap and water after each visit.
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Q8. Do visitors need to wear gloves and aprons when visiting a patient with an infection?
No unless they are involved in patient care. Please seek further advice from the staff on the Ward.
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Q9. What is a Closed Ward and can I visit?
In certain circumstances for example, during a vomitting and diarrheoa outbreak, the Infection Prevention and Control Team recommend that a ward is closed. This means that patients cannot be admitted on to or transferred out of that ward until the outbreak has settled. It is usually recommended that visiting is restricted unless essential.
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