Scientists have discovered a way of cleaning wards to all but ensure surfaces are free of the MRSA superbug. But the researchers from St Thomas’ Hospital, London stress they do not know if better cleaning will reduce the numbers of patients infected. Experts agree the main way to prevent transmission is for staff to wash their hands between patients. But it is thought staff may also pick up MRSA from surfaces such as taps and door handles and then infect patients. Hospital-acquired infections like MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) affect around 100,000 people in England each year, costing £1 billion and causing an estimated 5,000 deaths.
