NHS: MRSA infection
MRSA is a type of bacterial infection that is resistant to a number of widely used antibiotics. This means it can be more difficult to treat than other bacterial infections.
The full name of MRSA is meticillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. You may have heard it called a superbug.
Staphylococcus aureus (also known as staph) is a common type of bacteria. It is often carried on the skin and inside the nostrils and throat, and can cause mild infections of the skin such as boils and impetigo.
NHS: Clostridium difficile
A Clostridium difficile infection is a type of bacterial infection that can affect the digestive system. It most commonly affects people who have been treated with antibiotics.
NICE
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care.
Healthcare Infection Society (HIS)
The Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) is a charity (no. 286064) whose objectives are to advance knowledge of, foster scientific interest in and disseminate information about the prevention and control of hospital and other healthcare associated infections, to medical and allied professionals for the benefit of the public.
The membership of HIS is largely medical, especially consultant microbiologists and trainees, and associate membership is available to nurses and other health professionals with a professional interest in infection control.
Central Sterilising Club
The Central Sterilising Club was founded in 1960 by a small group of enthusiastic individuals who were either working in the rapidly evolving central sterile supply depts. or were attempting to solve the many problems associated with developing rapid, safe methods for sterilizing items in bulk.
MHRA
The MHRA is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.
The MHRA is a centre of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency which also includes the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), and the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health.
Infection Prevention Society
Our vision is that no person is harmed by a preventable infection.
Our mission is to inform promote and sustain expert infection prevention policy and practice in the pursuit of patient or service user and staff safety wherever care is delivered.
