Glasgow Royal Infirmary leads the fight against MRSA bug

Jul 2 2009 By Frank Hurley

PIONEERING work on a new disinfectant that slashed MRSA infections in a Glasgow hospital has been endorsed by a top English microbiologist.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary reduced its MRSA outbreaks by 50 per cent by using Byotrol in tests run by infections expert Professor Curtis Gemmell of Glasgow University.

Now the results from an 11-month independent study at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) has cut levels of MRSA on wards by one third.

Byotrol differs from other disinfectants by leaving a film on surfaces that stops bacteria setting down and multiplying.

The results at MRI aim to boost hopes of eradicating superbugs in UK hospitals, which contribute to nearly 10,000 patient deaths per year.

Professor Gemmell, an adviser to Byotrol PLC, said: "It is clear from the MRI study that the microbiological cleanliness attained with Byotrol was supe-rioto bleach and the results obtained in this study warrant its adoption in hospitals.

"Byotrol is a safer alternative to bleach and hitherto has not been shown to engender resistance or tolerance amongst hospital bacteria, nor does it damage hospital surfaces.

"One benefit which is worth serious consideration as part of any hospital hygiene bundle is the recognition that Byotrol displays residual anti-bacterial activity for more than a day after its application to inanimate surfaces unlike bleach."

Lord Warner, the former Health Minister, who is also an adviser to the company, said the Manchester results warranted much wider use of Byotrol in the NHS as part of the campaign to wipe out hospital superbugs.

Dr Andy Dodgson, the microbiologist who led the trial at the MRI, said: "These are very impressive results. Cutting the levels of pathogens on the wards reduces the risk to patients of picking up an infection."

The MRI study involved four general medical wards and the taking of swabs, checking for levels of bacteria, from more than 4000 individual sites.