MRSA Action UK: Alison shows why there is the need for the awareness campaign

Friday, 19 March 2010 12:00 AM

Alison Scott is running the Reading Half Marathon in memory of her Aunt Alice who passed away last September. Alison says "She was so much fun and so full of life". Alice was being treated for cancer. The operation to rid the cancer was successful but the aftercare resulted in Alice contracting MRSA, tragically she never recovered.

MRSA Action UK would like to thank Alison and all the people that sponsored her as by doing this it gives us an opportunity to reach out to the public and help them understand a bit more about MRSA, why people sometimes get it and what we can all do to help avoid the problems it can cause.

We all come face to face with bacteria like MRSA everyday and if we are in good health then it poses less of a threat to us. Good hand hygiene for anyone coming into contact with people who are unwell will help keep them safe, healthcare workers are more likely to be carrying bacteria like MRSA on their hands and this is the most likely source of transmission. This is why we see a lot of advertising campaigns telling everyone to wash their hands and use the alcohol gel that is found in almost every healthcare setting now.

Everyone is now being screened for MRSA when they go into hospital, if it turns out you are carrying MRSA then it simply means you will need to bathe in antibacterial soap for about a week and be given cream for your nose. If you have been admitted as an emergency and have MRSA it is likely you would be put into a single room to minimise the risk of cross infection with other patients.

Things are improving as a result of pressure groups like MRSA Action UK who are constantly campaigning for resources to be put into infection prevention and control, Alison has helped make this possible by raising awareness and raising funding to support the Charity in its work. For more information visit http://mrsaactionuk.net

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