Superbug found in half wards tested at hospital

Shocking new evidence of the prevalence of hospital superbugs is presented today.

Research has revealed that the killer infection MRSA was to be found in nearly half of wards and rooms tested at a London hospital.

Experts called into St Thomas' to examine new ways of wiping out the bacteria discovered it was rife on bedframes, taps, door handles and TV remote controls. The infection was widespread, even in areas where no MRSA patients had stayed.

The findings will fuel fears that superbugs are spiralling out of control in Britain's hospitals.

Critics claim hygiene standards throughout the NHS are still far too lax, putting thousands of lives at risk.

The findings come after months of research at the 1,200-bed London hospital by a team led by Professor Gary French, head of the department of infection at King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust.

The report was published in this week's Journal of Hospital Medicine.

The team was called in to test a breakthrough system for eradicating the infection. During their research, they took 359 swabs, both from rooms where MRSA patients had been treated, and communal areas.

The tests were carried out on 18 ward side rooms, two four-bed ward bays, and four bathrooms recently occupied or used by patients infected with MRSA. They were also carried out on eight sites in a bathroom used by non-MRSA patients,and the frames of 23 beds on an open ward being used by non-MRSA patients.

In side-rooms, bays and bathrooms where MRSA patients had been treated, the results were positive in every case.

Half of the sites in the non-MRSA patient bathroom, and six out of nine sites in the communal bathroom area, were positive. The communal bathroom area contained two patient hoists, both of which were positive.

A total of 43 per cent of the swabs from the bedframes on open wards were positive.

Today Guys and St Thomas' tried to play down the findings. A spokeswoman said: "This research was carried out in areas where MRSA patients had been treated. That was the whole point."

However, the study makes it clear the research was not limited to isolation areas for MRSA patients. The hospital also admits that MRSA patients cannot always be cared for in isolation rooms.

However, the research showed a near eradication of superbug traces from infected rooms using blasts of a hydrogen peroxide vapour, a system used in a portable device sold by British firm Bioquell.

Before decontamination with the product 72per cent of swabs tested positive. After decontamination only one swab - 1.2 per cent - was positive.