ABSTRACT
Patients in care homes are often at 'high risk' of being methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonised. Here we report the prevalence of MRSA, the effect of MRSA screening and decolonisation in Wolverhampton care-home residents. Eighty-two care homes (1665 residents) were screened for MRSA, three times at 6-monthly intervals (referred to as phases one, two and three). Screening and decolonisation of MRSA-colonised residents led to a reduction in the prevalence of MRSA from 8.7% in phase one, 6.3% in phase 2 and 4.7% in phase three. Overall, the study suggests that care-home facilities in Wolverhampton are a significant reservoir for MRSA; screening and decolonisation has reduced the risk to residents going for procedures and has indirectly impacted on MRSA rates in the acute Trust.
ABSTRACT
The delamination of glass contact surfaces because of hydrolytic instability has been well documented. However, the lack of glass surface integrity can also lead to other undesirable outcomes prior to visible glass delamination. This work shows how the early stages of delamination, namely, glass corrosion, can influence the chemical stability of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) solutions contained within a glass container, even prior to the observation of visible delamination. Multiple containers, all constructed of glass classified as USP Type I, were evaluated for hydrolytic stability and how they influence the chemical stability of the API in question. The glass composition of these analytical consumables, the vendor source, and presumably manufacturing process were examined. The implications of glass container durability on product development decisions, the influence on analytical results, and the practice of like-for-like glass container interchangeability are considered.
Subject(s)
Drug Packaging/methods , Drug Stability , Glass/chemistry , Corrosion , Drug StorageABSTRACT
Care home residents have a higher risk of contracting a healthcare-associated infection than the general population. This article describes a three-dimensional strategy that reduced MRSA colonisation among this group. This project won a Nursing Times/Health Service Journal Patient Safety Award in the primary care category in 2011.
