NHS Confederation: Zero tolerance is needed

A zero tolerance approach is needed to drive down rates of the infections MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C.diff), the NHS Confederation has said.

Its comments follow figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA), which showed a fall in both MRSA and C.diff during mid-2007.

"The significant decreases in MRSA and C.diff rates show how the NHS is committed to addressing infection control and how, with the right focus, it can deliver," said Jo Webber, deputy director of policy at the NHS Confederation.

"To ensure that infection rates continue to decline, a zero tolerance approach to infection must be embedded in the ethos of all NHS staff. Solutions need everyone - including the local community - to work together."

She added: "The NHS Confederation is currently reviewing the learning from inspections and good practice to help boards understand their responsibilities in relation to [healthcare-associated infections] initiatives such as matrons and deep cleaning need to be part of a system-wide approach to tackling this issue."