A nationwide research programme has revealed a widespread ambulance infection threat to staff and patients. The research trials involved emergency vehicles from half of the Ambulance Trusts in the UK, who worked in collaboration with ambulance equipment supplier Ferno UK and industrial and healthcare specialist Steris.
MRSA threat to ambulances revealed
The results showed that traditional cleaning and disinfection practices have little effect in removing bacterial contamination in ambulances, leaving crews and patients potentially at risk from bacteria such as MRSA.
Each of the ambulance research trials involved ambulances which had just come off duty. Swab testing found that every vehicle was contaminated with a variety of pathogens, including bacteria and fungi. After this swabbing, the trials evaluated current cleaning practices and then compared them to the Steris VHP decontamination process. Test results proved that no bacterial surface contaminants remained following the VHP decontamination process and all equipment contained within the vehicles remained fully functional.
Richard Diment, chief executive of Ambulance Service Association (ASA), commented: “Reducing Healthcare Acquired Infections is a priority for all parts of the NHS including ambulance services. The trials show the importance of infection control in ambulances and that VHP is a highly effective product for decontamination. The ASA will continue to work with our partners, including Steris, to ensure that ambulances are a safe environment for all patients and staff.”
