Infection Linked to Overcrowded Hospitals

A report in the British Journal of Nursing says overcrowding may be responsible for an increase in MRSA infections in English specialty hospitals.

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, is a type of bacteria resistant to certain antibiotics such as penicillin. It occurs most frequently among people in hospitals and healthcare facilities who have weakened immune systems.

The journal report said a research team from the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland found three quarters of English hospitals exceeded the recommended occupancy rate, which could mean there wasn’t enough time to properly disinfect the bed and surrounding area between one patient being discharged and another admitted.

Several governmental bodies in England have drawn attention to the fact that high levels of bed occupancy is not consistent with good infection control and bed management practices.