Depending on where they are treated, patients at some Australian hospitals are three times more likely to contract potentially deadly golden staph infections, a report has found.
While rates dropped slightly, the National Health Performance Authority and MyHospitals website revealed big differences in the prevalence of hospital-acquired golden staph infections.
In 2013-14, there were 1,621 cases of hospital-acquired golden staph infections, 100 cases fewer than the previous year.
Staphylococcus aureus, or S. aureus, is a common bacterium that lives on the skin or in the nose.
Hospital patients are more likely to be infected by golden staph because of surgical or other wounds.
Infectious diseases expert Associate Professor Peter Collignon from the Australian National University (ANU) said continued focus on measures such as hand washing and tighter procedures on intravenous lines could make a big difference to reducing golden staph rates even further.
“What it does show is that when you look at hospitals in the same groups, there are quite wide variations and to me that means that we can do better than what we are doing now,” he said.
Around 20 per cent of patients with hospital-acquired golden staph infections do not survive more than 30 days and those who survive spend much longer in hospital.
“If we can stop infections, that is good for individuals and [the] health system,” Professor Collignon said.
Decline welcome but more needs to be done: patient groups
The 6 per cent decline in the number of hospital cases of golden staph bloodstream infections is a welcome trend, given the potentially lethal nature of the infection, the Consumers Health Forum said.
But spokesman Mark Metherell said it was concerning to see big variations among similar hospitals in the rate of infection.
“The publication of these figures by the National Health Performance Authority is in the community’s interest and serves to remind us all that despite advances in medicine, the need for hygiene remains as vital as ever,” he said.
“We support the efforts hospitals and staff are making to ensure that a stay in hospital does not become a cause of further illness.
“Too many patients have suffered from serious illness and even death because of an avoidable infection in hospital.”
One of the hospitals with the highest rates, St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, has completely revamped its infection control procedures, according to its chief executive, Associate Professor Anthony Schembri.
“Our latest figures, from July 2014 to March, show that our rates have dropped down to 1.3 cases per 10,000 bed days, which is below the benchmark,” he said.
Major changes include changing protocols around central and peripheral line use, reviewing aseptic techniques and surgical site infection prevention.
Longer data shows reduction in Golden Staph over past 12 years
In the past 12 months, St Vincent’s has also embarked upon a major campaign to further improve hand hygiene.
“Already we are seeing some major improvements and I am confident if we continue to redouble our efforts among all staff and visitors, we will continue to keep our infection rates low,” Professor Schembri said.
Infectious diseases experts said the reduction in rates showed efforts to reduce infections had worked.
Professor Collignon said the latest study fitted with longer data showed a reduction in hospital acquired golden staph over the last 12 years.
“This reduction coincided with a range of infection prevention and control activities implemented during this time,” he said.
“It suggests that national and local efforts to reduce the burden of healthcare-associated infections have been very successful.”