SubscribeDocugard® papers are perfect for protecting hospital case notes and medical files against the proliferation of harmful bacteria.
Tests by researchers at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital revealed patient files were contaminated with dangerous bacteria that could be spread by doctors, nurses and other hospital staff.
The findings, published in the Journal of Hospital Infection (Vol55, Issue4, Dec2003), may help to explain why bugs appear to spread so easily on hospital wards.
The researchers said staff who read the notes may be picking up bacteria on their hands and transmitting them to vulnerable patients.
"Notes are handled by many health care workers, often taken into patients' rooms - even isolation rooms - and may be placed on patients' beds," a spokesman said. "They may therefore act as a vehicle for cross-infection by contaminating the hands of workers."
Researchers examined the case notes of 228 patients at a large district general hospital. Laboratory tests revealed all but one of the notes were contaminated with bacteria.
Most of these were ‘environmental’, but it is likely that if MRSA was present, it would survive on notes and could be transferred between patients.
Docugard® papers incorporate a silver anti-microbial agent which is safe and effective against the growth of micro-organisms such as MRSA. Papers protected by Docugard® should not be considered as an alternative to good hygiene practices, however, they do provide the optimum level of due diligence currently available against the proliferation of disease-causing bacteria.
For further information please contact our UK Sales Manager
Andrew Prosser
Tel:. 01539 818245
andrew.prosser@cropper.comor visit www.docugard.co.uk
