Hospital bares arms to cut bugs

A new dress code has been introduced at a Suffolk hospital in a bid to reduce the spread of infection.

Clinical staff at West Suffolk Hospital have been asked to make sure they are "bare below the elbows" at work.

Arms must be free from wrist watches, bracelets, false nails, nail varnish and rings with the exception of plain metal bands.

The code is part of infection controls measures designed to help clamp down on Clostridium difficile and MRSA.

The trust that runs the hospital achieved targets for reducing infections during 2008/09.

New maximum case targets have been introduced for 2009/10.

They have been set at nine cases of hospital and community-acquired MRSA for the year, and 58 cases of hospital acquired Clostridium difficile.

Protecting patients

In April, the hospital recorded no cases of MRSA, while incidents of Clostridium difficile stood at two.

"This new dress code will add to the stringent measures we already have in place to help reduce the spread of healthcare associated infections," said Nichole Day, executive chief nurse and director of infection prevention and control.

"Wrist watches, bracelets, rings and false nails can all trap the tiny microorganisms which cause infection.

"So asking our staff to be bare below the elbows is a logical step which will make it even easier for them to make sure their hands are clean at all times.

"Reducing infection is something we take very seriously at West Suffolk Hospital and we have had an excellent record over the past few years.

"But we view every case of MRSA and C diff as one too many - so anything we can do to protect our patients still further is good news for everybody."

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