New fears over spread of MRSA

New fears are raised today over the hospital superbug MRSA.

About half of hospitals isolate patients with the infection in intensive care wards. But a study published today shows this does nothing to prevent the spread.

MRSA kills at least 5,000 patients a year.

Researchers said the findings, which appear on the medical journal The Lancet's website, only apply to intensive care units and the usual practice of transferring infected patients from general wards into single rooms should continue.

Dr Peter Wilson and colleagues from University College London Hospitals and the Royal Free Hospital carried out a one-year study of intensive care unit patients. He said it "probably does more harm than good" to move patients to intensive care.

Dr Wilson said hand-washing by staff to prevent the spread of infection was very difficult in intensive care units as a nurse may touch a patient 20 to 30 times an hour.