Talley Environmental Care survey into MRSA
Posted: Sunday, September 25th, 2005
A quarter of Britons are just one step away from MRSA, a nationwide poll reveals today – and the real figure could be closer to a half.
The research, from Talley Environmental Care, shows for the first time just how close the infection is to any individual, and its devastating impact on millions of families. It was unveiled today at the Infection Control Nurses Association annual conference in Torquay and will be presented to the Prime Minister at the Labour Party conference.
The poll was commissioned by Talley manager Neil Manser, whose father Robert lost parts of both feet to MRSA after stubbing his toe in a hospital ward, and is now in constant agony. Neil spent 18 months as a volunteer helping infection control nurses, and has set up a new service to improve hospital hygiene.
A total of 1003 people interviewed by market research company BMRB were asked if they had a friend or family member who had contracted MRSA, or knew of someone whose immediate circle had been similarly affected. The findings revealed:
- Fourteen per cent of those in the nationally representative poll – just over one person in eight – had family or friends who had actually contracted MRSA
- Twenty six per cent of respondents were either in this situation, or just one step away, having a friend or relative with personal contact
- …But both figures were higher among female respondents, who perhaps tended to talk more openly about health. No fewer than 16 per cent said they had a family member or friend who had contracted MRSA, rising to 31 per cent when including friend and family circles. Among divorced adults, this figure reached a colossal 44 per cent
- Regional variations were surprisingly dramatic, with the “overall” incidence group revealing the highest rate among respondents in East Anglia, at 37 per cent, and the lowest in Yorkshire/Humberside (15 per cent). London, the South East, and South West, were all around the national average, as was Scotland, but Wales recorded 34 per cent
Neil Manser said: “And these could again be larger, as they included all respondents, and we already know that the women’s totals are higher. So many people could be closer MRSA than they think, but don’t know it, as they have just not talked about it.”
The highest percentage of positive responses were in the age group 45-54, who were perhaps facing minor surgery themselves, or had parents receiving treatment.
He added: “Normally, market research companies can guide on the likely outcome of questions, but in this case BMRB were completely stumped as no one has ever revealed how the infection is affecting people’s lives.
“My own father entered hospital three years ago just to have his diabetes stabilised, but has now entered a nightmare world of almost constant pain, consultants’ appointments and the terrifying thought of more surgery.
“It was only after I became actively involved in the fight against hospital acquired infections (HAIs) with the Infection Control Nurses Association that I began to understand the extent of the problem we face in hospitals and the community.
“The well quoted Government figures of 5000 deaths a year attributed to HAIs, while appalling, may only be the tip of the iceberg, as this information is based on assumptions in a very limited report published in 2000 from data gathered over five
years ago.
“Our new survey confirms the problem is far bigger than anyone had thought and highlights the need for us to invest in our trained infection control professionals and give them the tools to do their job.
“We must look at this problem holistically and not just at specific initiatives – we must break the all the facets of the contamination cycle including environmental factors and staff hygiene.
“MRSA is blighting lives of millions and is just one of many infections affecting the most vulnerable people in our society, a situation which cannot be tolerated.”
Graham Kelly from BMRB said: “MRSA emerged as an issue at the last general election, but at that time it was thought to be something affecting small numbers of people, albeit in a severe way. However these figures clearly show that millions of people are affected by MRSA, either directly or through the suffering of their friends and family, and that’s why we can expect to see MRSA moving up the political agenda”.