MPs call for more action on HCAIs

The Public Accounts Committee’s latest report on progress in reducing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) has concluded that, while the Department of Health (DH) has achieved significant reductions in MRSA bloodstream infections and Clostridium difficile (for which national targets have been set), in doing so, it has taken its “eye off the ball” regarding other HCAIs. 

A cross-party group of MPs pointed out that the latter constitutes the vast majority of all infections (four-fifths) and warned that some, such as surgical site infections and pneumonias, have actually increased. Edward Leigh MP, chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, said: “HCAIs cost the NHS more than £1 billion per year and can lead to serious disability and in some cases death. This is the third time that this Committee has reported on the subject and it is disappointing that the DH still has not taken on board a number of key recommendations. 

“Progress in combating these other infections is being undermined by a lack of potentially life-saving information. The DH is refusing to introduce mandatory surveillance of all hospital-acquired infections – as we have recommended twice. If it had, it would now have a better grip on what is going on and be able to reduce the risks of patients getting these infections.” He pointed out that the NHS “still has no idea how many patients are dying from the other HCAIs” and called for action on antibiotic prescribing: “Antibiotic resistance constitutes one of the greatest threats to controlling infection and yet the DH has chosen to ignore yet another recommendation in our previous report: that there should be a national electronic prescribing system. This would link data on infections to prescribing to make sure antibiotics are being used effectively.”