Patients in NHS Forth Valley who could be particularly vulnerable to infection or who are having planned surgery are to be swabbed for the so-called MRSA superbug.
The MRSA screening programme will apply to emergency admissions of vascular patients and those under the care of a geriatrician. Patients having elective surgery (with the exception of children, obstetrics and day cases) will also be screened as part of their pre-op assessment process.
MRSA rates are at their lowest level since monitoring began in 2003 and the number has fallen for seven consecutive quarters. Across Scotland, MRSA rates are down 32% compared with the same time a year ago.
NHS Forth Valley MRSA Screening Project Manager, Eliza Jenkins said: "The idea behind this screening programme is to detect patients who may be carrying the so-called superbug but are showing no symptoms. These patients could then be considered for treatment before admission, thus reducing the risk of them developing serious infections or spreading MRSA to other patients."
All patients who are eligible for swabbing will be given an information leaflet which is available in other languages, as well as in large print, in Braille (English only) and on audio tape. An easy-read version is also being produced.It is estimated that 7% of all patients admitted to hospital have the MRSA bacterium on their skin or in their nose even though they may feel well.